“Citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote.”

—  Barack Obama

2014, Sixth State of the Union Address (January 2014)
Context: Citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote. Last year, part of the Voting Rights Act was weakened, but conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are working together to strengthen it. And the bipartisan commission I appointed, chaired by my campaign lawyer and Governor Romney's campaign lawyer, came together and have offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote. Let's support these efforts. It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Sept. 30, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote." by Barack Obama?
Barack Obama photo
Barack Obama 1158
44th President of the United States of America 1961

Related quotes

Bob Marley photo

“Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!”

Bob Marley (1945–1981) Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician

Get Up, Stand Up, Burnin (1973), cowritten with Peter Tosh.
Song lyrics
Source: Bob Marley - Legend

Sarah Vowell photo

“Along with voting, jury duty, and paying taxes, goofing off is one of the central obligations of American citizenship.”

Sarah Vowell book The Partly Cloudy Patriot

Source: The Partly Cloudy Patriot

Bill Moyers photo

“Standing up to your government can mean standing up for your country.”

Bill Moyers (1934) American journalist

Speech at the National Conference on Media Reform (15 May 2005) http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0516-34.htm

Malala Yousafzai photo

“[T]hrough my story I want to tell other children all around the world that they should stand up for their rights. They should not wait for someone else and their voices are more powerful. Their voices – it would seem that they are weak, but at the time when no one speak, your voice gets so loud that everyone has to listen to it. Everyone has to hear it. So it’s my message to children all around the world that they should stand up for their rights.”

Malala Yousafzai (1997) Pakistani children's education activist

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Speech (October 10, 2014)

“When you believe in something, stand up for it, even if everyone is sitting.”

Natasha Friend (1972) American writer

Source: Perfect

Günter Nooke photo

“You did not experience dictatorship, Mrs Roth! If everyone agrees - it does not mean, that everyone is right!”

Günter Nooke (1959) German politician

Sie haben Diktatur nicht erlebt, Frau Roth! Wenn sich alle einig sind, bedeutet das noch nicht, dass alle Recht haben!
In response to Claudia Roth, plenary session of German Parliament (Bundestag), June 17, 2004, on Controversial Memorial Concept remembering the victims of the 20th century's two totalitarian regimes

Barack Obama photo

“Our system of self-government depends on ordinary citizens doing the hard, frustrating but always essential work of citizenship -- of being informed. Of understanding that the government isn’t some distant thing, but is you. Of speaking out when something is not right. Of helping fellow citizens when they need a hand. Of coming together to shape our country’s course. And that work gives purpose to every generation. It belongs to me. It belongs to the judge. It belongs to you. It belongs to you, all of us, as citizens. To follow our laws, yes, but also to engage with your communities and to speak up for what you believe in. And to vote -- to not only exercise the rights that are now yours, but to stand up for the rights of others.”

Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America

2015, Naturalization Ceremony speech (December 2015)

Barack Obama photo

“Our system of self-government depends on ordinary citizens doing the hard, frustrating but always essential work of citizenship -- of being informed. Of understanding that the government isn’t some distant thing, but is you. Of speaking out when something is not right. Of helping fellow citizens when they need a hand. Of coming together to shape our country’s course. And that work gives purpose to every generation. It belongs to me. It belongs to the judge. It belongs to you. It belongs to you, all of us, as citizens. To follow our laws, yes, but also to engage with your communities and to speak up for what you believe in. And to vote -- to not only exercise the rights that are now yours, but to stand up for the rights of others.”

Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America

We Will Not Be Terrorized (December 2015), Naturalization Ceremony speech (December 2015)

Michael Jackson photo

“Stand up for what you believe in even if it means you stand alone. Speak the truth even if your voice shakes. Never regret doing the right thing no matter what the cost may be.”

Michael Jackson (1958–2009) American singer, songwriter and dancer
Bob Marley photo

“Don't give up the fight,
Stand up for your rights.”

Bob Marley (1945–1981) Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician

Related topics