Remarks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention – Aug. 22, 2024

Hello, fellow Americans! [cheers]

I’m Gabby Giffords. I was born in the great state of Arizona. [cheers]

I was born with grit. I grew up racing motorcycles, mucking stalls, and exploring the beautiful desert. I fell for an astronaut. [cheers]

For five years, I served in Congress from a swing district. Everybody called me a rising star, then on January 8, 2011, a man tried to assassinate me. He shot 19 people. He killed six—terrible, terrible day. I almost died, but I fought for life and I survived. [cheers]

I learned to walk again, one step at a time. I learned to talk again, one word at a time. So many people helped me as I worked hard to recover, including a decent man for Delaware, who always checked in, and he still does. [cheers]

Thank you, Joe Biden. Thank you for everything. [cheers]

Joe is a great president. My friend Kamala will be a great president. She is tough. She has grit. [applause] Kamala can beat the gun lobby. She can fight gun trafficking. Kamala stood up to Wall Street and the drug company. She will protect abortion access. [cheers] She will defend our freedom. She saved lives.

Join me in voting for Kamala Harris. Thank you! [cheers and chants of “Gabby! Gabby!”]

PBS NewsHour. “Former Rep. Gabby Giffords speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention.” YouTube video, 2:39. Aug. 22, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q63SuY-SgkA