Her. A light anything but ordinary. She endured harassment and physical threats. Despite all that, she registered to vote. And for that, she lost her job. Then she helped others register to vote. And for that, she was arrested, and severely beaten to death on the jailhouse cell floor. By cheap but she pressed on. She became one of the founders, one of the leaders of the mississippi freedom democratic party. [cheering] they came to the Democratic Convention in 1964 to protest the disenfranchisement of African Americans and the absence of any blacks in the mississippi delegation. There before millions watching on television, she spoke of her ordeal. She gave a voice to all of us who wanted more, who dreamed up the possibility of better days. She reminded us of our basic values and our purpose. She helps this nation find its way again. 40 years later we stand before the most diverse convention in the history of the democratic party. [cheering] more africanamerican, asianamerican, native a