Georgians address Democrats on second day of convention
Georgia native Addisu Demissie was the first speaker on the second day of the Democratic National Convention, as enthusiasm remained high among Peach State delegates.
“We are here now a unified party, we are going to move this party forward to November, and Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine are going to be in the White House,” said Demissie, a senior staff member for Hillary For America. “That includes working, not just for Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket, but up and down the ballot. That is something that comes from the top of our campaign.”
He said Georgia is leading the effort to register new voters before the November election, but also noted the work is far from over.
“We need your help, we need you to continue to be partners in this, to turn out voters in Georgia,” Demissie said. “Keep doing what you’re doing, you are the leaders in this party.”
Jason Carter, former Georgia state senator and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, received a standing ovation from the delegation. Carter began with an update on the health of his grandfather, saying President Carter is cancer free and just celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary to his wife, Rosalynn in July.
Carter said he was honored and excited to be part of the “high stakes” election between Clinton and Donald Trump.
“There are folks who talk about not supporting Donald Trump for president, but they’re voting for him anyway,” Carter said. “If you’re going to sit there and let him validate all of these awful people who have been pushed to the margins of our community forever, we just can’t do that.”
Carter closed with praise for the party’s day-to-day work that positively impacts the democratic process.
“The best way to fight is to knock on somebody’s door and say, ‘I would like you to be part of my political community, please register to vote,’” Carter said. “And that human contact, reaching out to people, is what Democrats are about.”
This story was originally published July 26, 2016 at 9:12 PM with the headline "Georgians address Democrats on second day of convention."