Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis spoke alongside Rev. Al Sharpton in Washington D.C. on Friday about the need to be more vocal about the GOP’s proposed budget and to organize for President Barack Obama, especially against Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare.
“In unity there is strength,” Solis said. “In diversity there is strength. The president knows that and we know it. So I want to ask you if you are going to help us march again. I want to ask you if you’re going to help us organize.”
Solis, who was speaking before Sharpton’s non-profit, National Action Network, also encouraged the attendees to become more vocal about the budget: “So I want to ask you, are you fired up? And I want to make sure that when we talk about the budget that’s being proposed by the other side of the aisle, that you don’t forget that your voices are very, very important. Send those emails, get on Flickr, get on the websites of those members and let them know on Facebook — let them know where you’re stand.”
On GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare, Solis reminded attendees that they need to understand what President Obama is doing for them: “They want to voucher our schools and our health care programs. They want to get rid of the health care reform program which the president has put every effort in to help provide assistance for well over 32 million people. Why? Why now? Why now, when we have fought so hard? I want to tell you that we need to stand up and we must not forget that at this critical moment in time, we have to understand what the president is fighting for. And the president is fighting right there for you and I. And it’s about fairness.”
Videography by Sarah Hofmann