Democrats hope to create ‘blue wave’ (OPED)
The state assembly highlighted speeches from many candidates, but also issues important to young Coloradans like school shootings. Between candidate speeches, Tay Anderson, a community leader who helped organize 130,000 people in Denver’s March for Our Lives, fired up the crowd quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. near the anniversary of his assassination, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Anderson’s impassioned speech left the audience cheering when he left the podium saying, “Wakanda Forever.” Later, Allie Holton 16, addressed the assembly about her constant fear that a fire alarm is no longer a fire alarm, that it could signal the last time she or her friends would be alive.
The young, pre-registered Democrat from Fort Collins spoke about her success in mobilizing students from more than 15 schools in northern Colorado for a walkout. Standing with confidence at the podium, Holton said, “I am not old enough to vote, but I am old enough to ask for your vote.”
The state assembly included nominations for CU Regent-at-Large, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, State Attorney General and Governor. Candidates included men and women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Candidates made commitments to social justice, not taking “dark money” from special interest groups for their campaigns, and better funding for Colorado schools, which is one of the lowest funded school systems in the nation.
