before I begin I want to come clean I have three confessions to make number
have three confessions to make number
have three confessions to make number one when I introduce myself to white
one when I introduce myself to white
one when I introduce myself to white folks I get a kick out of it well let me
folks I get a kick out of it well let me
folks I get a kick out of it well let me tell you why usually the conversation
tell you why usually the conversation
tell you why usually the conversation goes something like hi my name is Javier
goes something like hi my name is Javier
goes something like hi my name is Javier it’s very nice to meet you and they will
it’s very nice to meet you and they will
it’s very nice to meet you and they will respond something like hello my name is
respond something like hello my name is
respond something like hello my name is so-and-so
so-and-so
so-and-so Cameron probably and they would say wow
Cameron probably and they would say wow
Cameron probably and they would say wow Javier
Javier
Javier where are you from man thinking that I’m
where are you from man thinking that I’m
where are you from man thinking that I’m gonna tell him or her an exotic place
gonna tell him or her an exotic place
gonna tell him or her an exotic place far far away where they can vacation and
far far away where they can vacation and
far far away where they can vacation and I respond
I respond
I respond I’m from Cranston Rhode Island to their
I’m from Cranston Rhode Island to their
I’m from Cranston Rhode Island to their disappointment and looking at their
disappointment and looking at their
disappointment and looking at their disappointment pointing face is
disappointment pointing face is
disappointment pointing face is priceless to me and I got a kick out of
priceless to me and I got a kick out of
priceless to me and I got a kick out of it I’m sorry
it I’m sorry
it I’m sorry confession number two the movie in time
confession number two the movie in time
confession number two the movie in time featuring Justin Timberlake is one of my
featuring Justin Timberlake is one of my
featuring Justin Timberlake is one of my favorite movies of all time I was
favorite movies of all time I was
favorite movies of all time I was thinking to myself while watching the
thinking to myself while watching the
thinking to myself while watching the movie like wow the concept of people
movie like wow the concept of people
movie like wow the concept of people having this time clock in their inner
having this time clock in their inner
having this time clock in their inner arm and the clock timing down to zero
arm and the clock timing down to zero
arm and the clock timing down to zero and then you automatically collide and
and then you automatically collide and
and then you automatically collide and die I know it’s really dark on September
die I know it’s really dark on September
die I know it’s really dark on September 5th the Trump administration and Jeff
5th the Trump administration and Jeff
5th the Trump administration and Jeff Sessions rescinded the daca program
Sessions rescinded the daca program
Sessions rescinded the daca program which put a time clock on 800,000 people
which put a time clock on 800,000 people
which put a time clock on 800,000 people across the United States
across the United States
across the United States my third confession I am a doctor
my third confession I am a doctor
my third confession I am a doctor recipient myself for those who know me
recipient myself for those who know me
recipient myself for those who know me and didn’t know that about me surprise
and didn’t know that about me surprise
and didn’t know that about me surprise for those who don’t know what the
for those who don’t know what the
for those who don’t know what the program is it stands for the firt action
program is it stands for the firt action
program is it stands for the firt action for childhood arrivals and it was made
for childhood arrivals and it was made
for childhood arrivals and it was made for people like myself who were brought
for people like myself who were brought
for people like myself who were brought here when there were children it was
here when there were children it was
here when there were children it was signed on by President Obama in 2012
signed on by President Obama in 2012
signed on by President Obama in 2012 through an executive order
through an executive order
through an executive order with obviously requirements first
with obviously requirements first
with obviously requirements first requirement was that you had to be in
requirement was that you had to be in
requirement was that you had to be in the country for your 16 second that you
the country for your 16 second that you
the country for your 16 second that you had to hold a high school diploma or a
had to hold a high school diploma or a
had to hold a high school diploma or a GED the requirement was that you had to
GED the requirement was that you had to
GED the requirement was that you had to have a clinical clean background nope no
have a clinical clean background nope no
have a clinical clean background nope no chemical criminal records I was one of
chemical criminal records I was one of
chemical criminal records I was one of those people and this program gave you a
those people and this program gave you a
those people and this program gave you a piece of paper this piece of paper was a
piece of paper this piece of paper was a
piece of paper this piece of paper was a work authorization that you can renew
work authorization that you can renew
work authorization that you can renew for two years now I tell you that story
for two years now I tell you that story
for two years now I tell you that story about my introduction is because I
about my introduction is because I
about my introduction is because I honestly I feel like a true Rhode
honestly I feel like a true Rhode
honestly I feel like a true Rhode Islander I graduated from Edgewood
Islander I graduated from Edgewood
Islander I graduated from Edgewood elementary school I went to Parkview
elementary school I went to Parkview
elementary school I went to Parkview middle school I went to Cranston High
middle school I went to Cranston High
middle school I went to Cranston High School East I graduated from the
School East I graduated from the
School East I graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island I went
Community College of Rhode Island I went
Community College of Rhode Island I went to Rhode Island College I now go to
to Rhode Island College I now go to
to Rhode Island College I now go to Brown University I’m such the Rhode
Brown University I’m such the Rhode
Brown University I’m such the Rhode Islander that I hate driving more than
Islander that I hate driving more than
Islander that I hate driving more than thirty minutes to get somewhere I can
thirty minutes to get somewhere I can
thirty minutes to get somewhere I can tell you where to get the best Italian
tell you where to get the best Italian
tell you where to get the best Italian grinder in the state these deli if you
grinder in the state these deli if you
grinder in the state these deli if you haven’t had it you’re not living but
haven’t had it you’re not living but
haven’t had it you’re not living but yeah so I truly feel like we’re Islander
yeah so I truly feel like we’re Islander
yeah so I truly feel like we’re Islander and I don’t need a piece of paper paper
and I don’t need a piece of paper paper
and I don’t need a piece of paper paper to tell me that I’m not before 2012 that
to tell me that I’m not before 2012 that
to tell me that I’m not before 2012 that was just a regular kid this picture is
was just a regular kid this picture is
was just a regular kid this picture is actually the first time I stepped into
actually the first time I stepped into
actually the first time I stepped into Island and this is the first time where
Island and this is the first time where
Island and this is the first time where I understood my realities I knew that I
I understood my realities I knew that I
I understood my realities I knew that I was in a foreign place but I was with my
was in a foreign place but I was with my
was in a foreign place but I was with my family and I was ready you know to make
family and I was ready you know to make
family and I was ready you know to make it happen what this picture doesn’t tell
it happen what this picture doesn’t tell
it happen what this picture doesn’t tell you is that four days before this
you is that four days before this
you is that four days before this picture was taken I was stranded in the
picture was taken I was stranded in the
picture was taken I was stranded in the middle of Ciudad Juarez the most
middle of Ciudad Juarez the most
middle of Ciudad Juarez the most dangerous city in the world surrounded
dangerous city in the world surrounded
dangerous city in the world surrounded by drug dealers
by drug dealers
by drug dealers toots gang members kidnappers I was
toots gang members kidnappers I was
toots gang members kidnappers I was trying to cross the border if you want
trying to cross the border if you want
trying to cross the border if you want to get that story out of me you might
to get that story out of me you might
to get that story out of me you might have to buy me a couple beers but for
have to buy me a couple beers but for
have to buy me a couple beers but for the sake of time my father and I made it
the sake of time my father and I made it
the sake of time my father and I made it over the border very safely and our
over the border very safely and our
over the border very safely and our journey began from New Mexico to
journey began from New Mexico to
journey began from New Mexico to Providence in one Greyhound bus one trip
Providence in one Greyhound bus one trip
Providence in one Greyhound bus one trip the trip was around five days and it’s
the trip was around five days and it’s
the trip was around five days and it’s funny this picture that I dug up for my
funny this picture that I dug up for my
funny this picture that I dug up for my closet it has a caption in the back and
closet it has a caption in the back and
closet it has a caption in the back and that caption says from my father Xavier
that caption says from my father Xavier
that caption says from my father Xavier senior I hate McDonald’s all the bus
senior I hate McDonald’s all the bus
senior I hate McDonald’s all the bus stop stop in McDonald’s
stop stop in McDonald’s
stop stop in McDonald’s my dad from that day on hated Burgers
my dad from that day on hated Burgers
my dad from that day on hated Burgers hated it as I went through the education
hated it as I went through the education
hated it as I went through the education system here in Rhode Island I understood
system here in Rhode Island I understood
system here in Rhode Island I understood that my path was gonna be a little bit
that my path was gonna be a little bit
that my path was gonna be a little bit different
different
different my undocumented Ness didn’t really set
my undocumented Ness didn’t really set
my undocumented Ness didn’t really set in into my senior year of high school
in into my senior year of high school
in into my senior year of high school where people were applying to college
where people were applying to college
where people were applying to college and looking for jobs I knew that I had
and looking for jobs I knew that I had
and looking for jobs I knew that I had to be different and seeing how I
to be different and seeing how I
to be different and seeing how I couldn’t Drive seeing how I couldn’t get
couldn’t Drive seeing how I couldn’t get
couldn’t Drive seeing how I couldn’t get a like obviously I couldn’t get a
a like obviously I couldn’t get a
a like obviously I couldn’t get a license or I couldn’t work I had to take
license or I couldn’t work I had to take
license or I couldn’t work I had to take things into my own hands and start
things into my own hands and start
things into my own hands and start getting creative I started working under
getting creative I started working under
getting creative I started working under the gig under the table gigs I went I
the gig under the table gigs I went I
the gig under the table gigs I went I did some construction work I worked at
did some construction work I worked at
did some construction work I worked at this beautiful food truck the ironic
this beautiful food truck the ironic
this beautiful food truck the ironic thing about this food truck is that I
thing about this food truck is that I
thing about this food truck is that I couldn’t even drive it so that was just
couldn’t even drive it so that was just
couldn’t even drive it so that was just a cook and that’s the best part part of
a cook and that’s the best part part of
a cook and that’s the best part part of it right but I saved enough money for me
it right but I saved enough money for me
it right but I saved enough money for me to go back to college because I knew
to go back to college because I knew
to go back to college because I knew that education was the one thing that’s
that education was the one thing that’s
that education was the one thing that’s gonna erase my family from the financial
gonna erase my family from the financial
gonna erase my family from the financial burden that we have as first generation
burden that we have as first generation
burden that we have as first generation and I was able to do that went to
and I was able to do that went to
and I was able to do that went to Community College Rhode Island I
Community College Rhode Island I
Community College Rhode Island I graduated and I got an associate’s
graduated and I got an associate’s
graduated and I got an associate’s degree in general studies with a path to
degree in general studies with a path to
degree in general studies with a path to Rhode Island College and this is all
Rhode Island College and this is all
Rhode Island College and this is all great but how was I going to save up
great but how was I going to save up
great but how was I going to save up more money to
more money to
more money to and graduate from Rhode Island College
and graduate from Rhode Island College
and graduate from Rhode Island College so I had to drop out and go back to the
so I had to drop out and go back to the
so I had to drop out and go back to the food truck after twenty twelve happened
food truck after twenty twelve happened
food truck after twenty twelve happened obviously was a game changer this
obviously was a game changer this
obviously was a game changer this President shall executive order was
President shall executive order was
President shall executive order was built exactly for me and I was the first
built exactly for me and I was the first
built exactly for me and I was the first person the guy in a line and got my
person the guy in a line and got my
person the guy in a line and got my paperwork my piece of paper with that
paperwork my piece of paper with that
paperwork my piece of paper with that piece of paper I rented the MV got my
piece of paper I rented the MV got my
piece of paper I rented the MV got my driver’s license I got it at 23 when I
driver’s license I got it at 23 when I
driver’s license I got it at 23 when I treat a guy at 16 I put on a suit and I
treat a guy at 16 I put on a suit and I
treat a guy at 16 I put on a suit and I went to my first interview where I got
went to my first interview where I got
went to my first interview where I got the job at this mortgage company in
the job at this mortgage company in
the job at this mortgage company in Middletown co-linear this company had a
Middletown co-linear this company had a
Middletown co-linear this company had a 401k insurance good paying salary sick
401k insurance good paying salary sick
401k insurance good paying salary sick days vacation days things that I had
days vacation days things that I had
days vacation days things that I had never had in my life and it was great I
never had in my life and it was great I
never had in my life and it was great I moved on to my next job in the medical
moved on to my next job in the medical
moved on to my next job in the medical field from Fresenius Medical Care
field from Fresenius Medical Care
field from Fresenius Medical Care providing dialysis to those who had five
providing dialysis to those who had five
providing dialysis to those who had five stage kidney disease and that job was
stage kidney disease and that job was
stage kidney disease and that job was actually very eye-opening it was like
actually very eye-opening it was like
actually very eye-opening it was like wow these people need help I’m glad to
wow these people need help I’m glad to
wow these people need help I’m glad to be part of this in those four years I
be part of this in those four years I
be part of this in those four years I was able to save enough money to return
was able to save enough money to return
was able to save enough money to return to her Island College and pay for my
to her Island College and pay for my
to her Island College and pay for my tuition and I was very proud to say that
tuition and I was very proud to say that
tuition and I was very proud to say that I graduated May of this year and became
I graduated May of this year and became
I graduated May of this year and became the first person of my family and my
the first person of my family and my
the first person of my family and my family tree nevertheless
family tree nevertheless
family tree nevertheless to graduate from a four-year institution
to graduate from a four-year institution
to graduate from a four-year institution [Applause]
so although this piece of paper changed
so although this piece of paper changed my life and legislation comes and goes
my life and legislation comes and goes
my life and legislation comes and goes executive orders come and go the one
executive orders come and go the one
executive orders come and go the one thing that’s constant in my life is the
thing that’s constant in my life is the
thing that’s constant in my life is the support of my parents this is a picture
support of my parents this is a picture
support of my parents this is a picture of me in kindergarten looking all dapper
of me in kindergarten looking all dapper
of me in kindergarten looking all dapper a picture when I graduated high school a
a picture when I graduated high school a
a picture when I graduated high school a picture when I graduated Community
picture when I graduated Community
picture when I graduated Community College and a picture when I graduated
College and a picture when I graduated
College and a picture when I graduated for Allen College next year we will have
for Allen College next year we will have
for Allen College next year we will have a picture when I graduate from an Ivy
a picture when I graduate from an Ivy
a picture when I graduate from an Ivy League institution however now that this
League institution however now that this
League institution however now that this program is ended congressmen and
program is ended congressmen and
program is ended congressmen and Senators are trying to explain that this
Senators are trying to explain that this
Senators are trying to explain that this is not my fault
is not my fault
is not my fault because that was a child and I had no
because that was a child and I had no
because that was a child and I had no say on my parents bringing me and
say on my parents bringing me and
say on my parents bringing me and they’re putting the blame on my parents
they’re putting the blame on my parents
they’re putting the blame on my parents and I completely disagree with that they
and I completely disagree with that they
and I completely disagree with that they are the original dreamers I am a result
are the original dreamers I am a result
are the original dreamers I am a result of their sacrifice and anyone’s gonna
of their sacrifice and anyone’s gonna
of their sacrifice and anyone’s gonna blame anyone
blame anyone
blame anyone let’s bring Congress if this is so
let’s bring Congress if this is so
let’s bring Congress if this is so important it’s top priority we have a
important it’s top priority we have a
important it’s top priority we have a time clock right now to go and make this
time clock right now to go and make this
time clock right now to go and make this change for these people and maybe bring
change for these people and maybe bring
change for these people and maybe bring them back into the fold right my dream
them back into the fold right my dream
them back into the fold right my dream began in this Greyhound bus half a mile
began in this Greyhound bus half a mile
began in this Greyhound bus half a mile away from this building over there by
away from this building over there by
away from this building over there by the Dunkin Donuts Center back then was
the Dunkin Donuts Center back then was
the Dunkin Donuts Center back then was the Convention Center and but also my
the Convention Center and but also my
the Convention Center and but also my reality began right I knew that I was
reality began right I knew that I was
reality began right I knew that I was brought here and I had a purpose the
brought here and I had a purpose the
brought here and I had a purpose the purpose to bring my community up from
purpose to bring my community up from
purpose to bring my community up from poverty my family up in the American
poverty my family up in the American
poverty my family up in the American social ladder
social ladder
social ladder and help those who feel the same way
and help those who feel the same way
and help those who feel the same way along the way now obviously my dreams
along the way now obviously my dreams
along the way now obviously my dreams are becoming real
are becoming real
are becoming real however people think that while you’ve
however people think that while you’ve
however people think that while you’ve done so many things you should be happy
done so many things you should be happy
done so many things you should be happy I am happy but that’s not the end for me
I am happy but that’s not the end for me
I am happy but that’s not the end for me I have even bigger dreams my dream is to
I have even bigger dreams my dream is to
I have even bigger dreams my dream is to go to law school and become an attorney
go to law school and become an attorney
go to law school and become an attorney and not just any mediocre law school I
and not just any mediocre law school I
and not just any mediocre law school I want to go to Harvard or Yale or
want to go to Harvard or Yale or
want to go to Harvard or Yale or Stanford because I know that after I get
Stanford because I know that after I get
Stanford because I know that after I get one of those degrees I’m gonna be able
one of those degrees I’m gonna be able
one of those degrees I’m gonna be able to put real change into this broken
to put real change into this broken
to put real change into this broken immigration system we’re striving for
immigration system we’re striving for
immigration system we’re striving for this utopian future where everyone gets
this utopian future where everyone gets
this utopian future where everyone gets along and immigration is not an issue
along and immigration is not an issue
along and immigration is not an issue and we want to help everyone at least
and we want to help everyone at least
and we want to help everyone at least that’s what I’ve seen seen you folks
that’s what I’ve seen seen you folks
that’s what I’ve seen seen you folks here
here
here however there’s I have also seen the
however there’s I have also seen the
however there’s I have also seen the hatred the malice that these people now
hatred the malice that these people now
hatred the malice that these people now feel that they have the power to to to
feel that they have the power to to to
feel that they have the power to to to do right to come out of the shadows and
do right to come out of the shadows and
do right to come out of the shadows and call me illegal that I shouldn’t be here
call me illegal that I shouldn’t be here
call me illegal that I shouldn’t be here that I don’t pay taxes that I should be
that I don’t pay taxes that I should be
that I don’t pay taxes that I should be happy that I’m getting this piece of
happy that I’m getting this piece of
happy that I’m getting this piece of paper and I just want to clear some
paper and I just want to clear some
paper and I just want to clear some misconceptions I do pay taxes I wish I
misconceptions I do pay taxes I wish I
misconceptions I do pay taxes I wish I had a picture of my furrow of my income
had a picture of my furrow of my income
had a picture of my furrow of my income tax up there but I mean Donald Trump
tax up there but I mean Donald Trump
tax up there but I mean Donald Trump can’t do it why should I
[Applause]
[Applause] I have been trying to contribute to my
I have been trying to contribute to my
I have been trying to contribute to my hometown to my state and to my country
hometown to my state and to my country
hometown to my state and to my country ever since I stepped foot of that
ever since I stepped foot of that
ever since I stepped foot of that Greyhound bus because my community has
Greyhound bus because my community has
Greyhound bus because my community has shaped me to be presentable man and a
shaped me to be presentable man and a
shaped me to be presentable man and a person to not let obstacles ruin my
person to not let obstacles ruin my
person to not let obstacles ruin my dreams all my friends although mostly
dreams all my friends although mostly
dreams all my friends although mostly white they’re hustlers they’re
white they’re hustlers they’re
white they’re hustlers they’re go-getters I learned from them I’m not
go-getters I learned from them I’m not
go-getters I learned from them I’m not gonna let one piece of paper hold me
gonna let one piece of paper hold me
gonna let one piece of paper hold me back of what I really want to do and
back of what I really want to do and
back of what I really want to do and although this program is over I stand
although this program is over I stand
although this program is over I stand with you today to raise awareness for
with you today to raise awareness for
with you today to raise awareness for those people and I ask you to stand in
those people and I ask you to stand in
those people and I ask you to stand in solidarity with those 800,000 people and
solidarity with those 800,000 people and
solidarity with those 800,000 people and those 11 million people that are also
those 11 million people that are also
those 11 million people that are also being ignored right now today
being ignored right now today
being ignored right now today you will hear people speak about
you will hear people speak about
you will hear people speak about remembering the past taking action in
remembering the past taking action in
remembering the past taking action in the present for a utopian future that we
the present for a utopian future that we
the present for a utopian future that we all want to see after listening to my
all want to see after listening to my
all want to see after listening to my story and understanding how it has
story and understanding how it has
story and understanding how it has impacted my life and other 800,000
impacted my life and other 800,000
impacted my life and other 800,000 people I ask you when does this
people I ask you when does this
people I ask you when does this futuristic utopian please start does it
futuristic utopian please start does it
futuristic utopian please start does it begin after I leave this red carpet does
begin after I leave this red carpet does
begin after I leave this red carpet does it begin when you leave this building
when does this utopian future that we’re
when does this utopian future that we’re working so hard for begin thank you
working so hard for begin thank you
working so hard for begin thank you you
”
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