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President Obama Gives Farewell Speech in Chicago

HeadlineJan 11, 2017

President Obama gave his farewell presidential address at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center Tuesday night. In the sweeping and, at times, emotional speech, President Obama spoke about everything from the Affordable Care Act to his love for his wife, first lady Michelle Obama. He also offered veiled critiques of President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant and xenophobic campaign proposals and invoked what he called the country’s “call to citizenship.”

President Barack Obama: “For 240 years, our nation’s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. It’s what led patriots to choose republic over tyranny, pioneers to trek west, slaves to brave that makeshift railroad to freedom. It’s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and the Rio Grande. It’s what pushed women to reach for the ballot. It’s what powered workers to organize. It’s why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima, Iraq and Afghanistan, and why men and women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs, as well.”

During his speech Tuesday night, President Obama, the United States’ first black president, also spoke about racism.

President Barack Obama: “After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America. And such a vision, however well intended, was never realistic. Race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society.”

We’ll have more on President Obama’s farewell speech later in the broadcast with Rev. William Barber.

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