Duckworth Speaks at Secretary Jesse White's African-American Heritage Month Celebration About Need for Economic Justice
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at Secretary Jesse White's annual African-American Heritage Month Celebration in Chicago, Illinois. Appearing alongside elected officials like Secretary of State Jesse White, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, Duckworth paid tribute to the leaders and trailblazers of Chicago's African American community and spoke about the need for economic justice in Chicago and across Illinois. A photo is available here.
"We know that the true strength of this country lies in the diversity of its people, which is why I go to work each day to help ensure every American, no matter where they're from, has the same opportunity to get a quality education, secure a good-paying job and create a life for their children that is better than their own," said Senator Duckworth. "Too many young people, particularly young people of color, have their dreams and their ambitions stifled by lack of hope. To address this, we need economic justice. We need jobs, and we need investment in all of our communities. We need an education system that prepares our children for a fast-changing economy, no matter their zip code."
Duckworth also spoke about the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses, of making education more accessible and affordable, and of preparing students so they can attend college or get a job and a decent wage when they graduate from school.
"The bottom line is that when our families are working as hard as they can to get by but are still struggling to pay rent or put food on the table -- our whole community suffers, our whole nation suffers," Duckworth added. "I will continue to do my part in the Senate to help expand economic opportunity, make education more accessible and create more vibrant communities across the state. We may have a lot of work ahead of us, but together we can make it happen."
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