"Your activism is compelling, and, in fact, quite inspiring. Your politics are exactly right. And your energy is one of the most powerful things in the world. For those reasons and a whole lot more, I'm honored and excited. This summit is critical. America is begging for change on a grand scale. The kind of change that, quite frankly, has always been led by young people.
Back in the 30s when unionism lifted up a nation and built the biggest middle class the world has known, young people led that fight. And in the 50s and 60s when the civil rights movement brought our nation closer to true equality, young people were the vanguard of that struggle. For movements for LGBT and gender equality, fights for public workers in Wisconsin and Ohio, and the political victories that elected America's first African American president - all across this country, young people have led and are leading the organizing, and marching, and mobilizing. That's very essential, and that is you."
