WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Ambassador Andrew Young – a voice for hope

 Recently, I had the honor of introducing Ambassador Andrew Young at the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Here are my remarks.

“I am honored to be here this morning and have the privilege of introducing Dr. Andrew Young. Dr. Young’s work holds particularly special meaning to me.

I was raised by a single Mom, who struggled to make ends meet, in Watts, a neighborhood in South Central LA. I grew up in the midst of racial tensions, police riots, and violence.

Gangs grew out of this violence – the Bloods, the Crips. They claimed territory and tried to recruit my friends and me. I had to be careful about what streets I walked down, and constantly looked over my shoulder.

Luckily, I had a Mom who cared.  And I also had important figures to look up to. People fighting inequality in a different way. People like Dr. Young.

Dr. Young was a model for young, black men and women everywhere, including me. His work was inspiring. Dr. Young showed my friends and me a different path. He fought, non-violently, and relentlessly beside Dr. Martin Luther King, for the rights marginalized people everywhere. He led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and spearheaded the Civil Rights campaign across our country.

He has served the Mayor of Atlanta, US Representative, and as Ambassador to the United Nations.

Dr. Young continues his public service to this day – working tirelessly for the rights of oppressed people here and across our globe. Thank you for your service, Dr. Young, to me, and to generations of minority, poor and oppressed people across the globe. I incredibly honored you are here with us today and would like to welcome you.”