In 1990, when we started the Black Community Crusade for Children, we were always talking about all children, but we paid particular attention to children who were not white, who were poor, who were disabled, and who were the most vulnerable.Parents didn't think their children would live to adulthood, and the children didn't think they were going to live to adulthood. That's when we started our first gun-violence campaign. We've lost 17 times more young black people to gun violence since 1968 than we lost in all the lynching in slavery.
Marian Wright EdelmanPeople who don't vote have no line of credit with people who are elected and thus pose no threat to those who act against our interests.
Marian Wright EdelmanYou're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.
Marian Wright EdelmanUnderstand and be confident that each of us can make a difference by caring and acting in small as well as big ways.
Marian Wright EdelmanYou have to have a fundamental change in the culture of policing, and who is the police person. How do they change? How do you learn from England and the other places, or Australia? In England, they don't carry guns on the whole. It's a different kind of mentality that does not demonize, and it's justified on race and income and class.
Marian Wright Edelman