The Honorable John Lewis's Speech Before the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, July 29, 2004

BOSTON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of the Honorable John Lewis's speech before the Democratic National Convention, on Thursday, July 29, 2004:

My fellow Americans, tonight the spirit of history is upon us. And the spirit of history sees a great nation and a proud people cast in shadow, the shadow of a man, a president who has divided a nation against itself, and turned the world away from a friend.

In the past four years, our president has embraced the politics of division and despair over the politics of hope the politics of the possible. He has turned our friends and allies against us. He has dimmed the lights of that noble city sitting on a hill.

The foundation of our great house has been shaken. And a house divided against itself cannot stand. At home and abroad, we are a divided house. We need a leader. We need John Kerry to bring our house together to make us stronger at home and throughout the world.

During the Civil Rights movement, I and countless others worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to build what we called the "beloved community," a united community, a community at peace with itself.

It wouldn't happen overnight, but we knew that by bringing dignity, opportunity, and hope to all people, we would overcome. We would help make that dream a reality. And we did overcome.

I believe in my heart and in my soul that our nation -- our world -- needs John Kerry and John Edwards to rebuild our house.

We need them to restore the sense of family, of community, and of hope in America. My fellow Americans, John Kerry and John Edwards will redirect the resources of this great nation, not to oppress, but to uplift, not to divide, but to bring together, not to enslave, but to set free.

John Kerry and John Edwards will remove the shadow from our nation. They will unite our house. And they will build a world, a nation a "beloved community" that is better, safer, and stronger.

As Americans we must keep in mind that it does not matter whether we are black or white, Hispanic or Asian-American, Native-American, or Arab-American. It doesn't matter that our foremothers and our forefathers all came to this great land in different ships. We're all in the same boat now.

In the final analysis, we are all one people, one family, one house, the American house.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/