"I am with you always. I love you. Lead on. Lead on."
Justin Dart, Jr.
June 2003

Remarks by Yoshiko Dart, March to and Rally on the Hill, NCIL, SDOB #106, Washington, DC, June 5, 2003

Colleagues in NCIL, colleagues in ADAPT, colleagues in freedom all across the country, we love you.

Justin loved you and will continue to love you.

We congratulate the patriots who organized this meeting and each of you here today to do the business of democracy.

We congratulate Mike Oxford, Kelly Buckland, Gina McDonald, Anne-Marie Hughey, NCIL staff, and all who have contributed to many years of landmark progress toward a society of liberty and justice for all.

We are so honored to be here today with great Americans like Bob Kafka, Becky Ogle, Jim Ward, Senators Harkin, Specter, Representatives Danny Davis, John Shimikus, Steny Hoyer, Jim Langevin, Ruben Hinojosa, Barney Frank, Betty McCollum, Ralph Regula and so many of you.

Democracy has been an explosion of positive change unequaled in the history of humanity. But the job of democracy is far from finished.

Colleagues, our movement stands at an historic crossroads.

As we have seen in recent months, the powerful forces of the far right, forces of retreat have started taking us back to the days of states rights and power and privilege for the few.

ADA, IDEA, Independent living funding, Medicare, Medicaid, Disability Benefits, MiCASSA, democracy itself is at risk. Who can stop this mortal onslaught on the American Dream? Look around the room. As Justin would say, the buck stops here. You have the power! You do not have the money to match the ad agency advocacy of our opponents, but you do have the power of truth and the potential power of millions of ordinary people who love freedom, many of whom will join you if you ask them.

"You have the power. Live the Dream."

The elections of 2004 are upon us. We must elect candidates who will create an America of independence for ALL, freedom for ALL. We have the power. We can do it.

Thanks to you, Justin died in the beautiful belief that the revolution of empowerment will go on. And you are leading it today and you will lead it tomorrow and will never, never, never give up. Justin would be so proud of you.

Colleagues, we love you.

Together, but only together united in love and truth, we shall free our people and we shall overcome.

Freedom now! Independence now! Pass MiCASSA now! Free our people! Free our people! Free our people!

Lead on! Lead on!

Thank you!