Bill Phan (B-ILL)

I was raised by immigrants and I was raised by women.

I was raised to understand the value of money. My college fund was a jar of coins given to me by my mother the day I left for college while she cried, kissing me goodbye because that’s all she could afford. That was when I realized life wasn’t what I was told it would be.

The American Dream is real and the American dream is alive in me. I am my parents’ American dream and no matter what our government does, that will never die.

I fear for my friends, my family and those that are affected because I know my family’s story is just one of many. I am fortunate and not many were as fortunate.

America was founded on principles that taught us to accept one another for who we were not where we came from or what others thought of us but times have changed and people have changed. Leadership has caused a divide in our society and I have been silent long enough.

I cannot sit back and allow people I consider friends to think this is acceptable nor is it what our founders truly wanted.

I will stand in solidarity for the immigrant families , I will stand in solidarity for women, I will stand in solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community, I will stand in solidarity for the under represented, I will stand for those that cannot because of fear and the hatred that exists.

I am here as an advocate, as a friend and a supporter. I am sorry for what America has become.