WASHINGTON— In response to the results from the 2016 general election, AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement:
“Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton understood working families have
been left behind by a changing economy, punctuated by the last
recession, and that anger is reflected in the results. While Hillary
Clinton seems on track to win the popular vote, more people in more
states trusted Donald Trump to bring the change they need than trusted
Hillary.
“Throughout
this campaign, Donald Trump promised to fix the rigged economy. He
promised to restore America’s middle class, to bring back the country’s
manufacturing and industrial base, and to restore dignity and
opportunity for Americans—values that we as trade unionists understand
intimately. He said last night that he would bring the country
together—something that is essential, given the bullying and bigotry
unleashed in this election. And as unionists, we will work tirelessly to
ensure that all people can reach for their dreams, economically,
educationally and otherwise.
“We
believe deeply in our democracy. We accept the will of the people, and,
as Hillary Clinton said today, we owe President-elect Trump the chance
to lead. We will also hold him accountable for the promises he made to
restore the sense of greatness and opportunity that too many Americans
feel they have lost, while at the same time we will continue the fight
for everyone’s liberties.
“As
Hillary said this morning, the American dream is big enough for
everyone, and fighting for what’s right is worth it. She called on us
not to lose faith, not to be discouraged, not to lose heart. As we work
to restore economic opportunity and dignity, we must—and we will—stand
up to the tides of intolerance. We will ensure that the vulnerable, the
bullied and the forgotten are not targeted or abandoned; that our rights
are preserved for all communities; that our democracy is not eclipsed;
and that our movements and values—like labor, public education, access
to healthcare, a clean environment, civil rights and so much more—are
not forgotten or devastated.
“Though
heartbroken at this result, this was about economic change and a
yearning for change, not an undermining of all things we hold dear like
public schools. Across the country in local races—from ballot
initiatives in Georgia and Massachusetts, to school boards in New
Orleans and Corpus Christi, to levies that will support schools in
Cincinnati, Cleveland and the San Francisco Community College District,
to Proposition 55 in California and much more—voters chose to lift up
and protect the institution of public education. Our members across the
country worked hard not just for Hillary, but for their local schools,
their hospitals, their public services—and many prevailed.
“We
poured our hopes, our energy and our hearts into this campaign to elect
someone we believed would bring the change we do desperately need. It
breaks our hearts that the Hillary Clinton we know and love was not the
person so many voters saw. But our deep belief in our democracy, in the
power of people together, in the cause of opportunity and justice, will
compel us to come together to move forward, no matter the odds.
“We
will do what Americans have always done. We will pick ourselves up,
extend a hand to our neighbors and our colleagues, and recommit
ourselves to the task of fighting for an America where everyone has a
fair chance; where no one is demonized, no one is excluded; and where we
lift each other up rather than let anyone—even a president—push any of
us down.”
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Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
