Gabby Giffords tells personal recovery to American resistance in powerful speech at DNC

Giffords, a key voice on gun violence hit in the head while speaking with constituencies during the deadly attack in Tucson, urges Americans to take action to end gun violence in a heated speech calling on voters Bid to elect as president. Her remarks were the longest she has given since the shootings survived nearly a decade ago, her spokeswoman Jason Phelps told CNN.

Giffords worked for months with her speech therapist to perfect her remarks about her connection to Biden, whom she signed in March, and to capture the importance of this moment in history, according to Phelps.

The video showed the former congresswoman playing the French horn, an instrument she played when she was a teenager, marked just how far she had come in her recovery.

“I have known the darkest of days. Days of pain and uncertain recovery. But confronted with despair I have raised hope. Faced with paralysis and aphasia I have responded with grit and determination. I laid one foot in front of the other. I have one word and then I found another, “Giffords said. “My recovery is a daily struggle, but fighting makes me stronger.”

Giffords urges Americans to fight for their country in the way they fought for their recovery, and urges voters to support Biden and “be on the right side of history.”

“We’re at a crossroads,” Giffords said. “We can continue the shooting, or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We have to choose Joe Biden. He was there for me, he will be there for you too. Join us in this battle. Vote voice. “

Giffords has become a symbol in the Democratic struggle for stricter gun laws. On the eighth anniversary of the day she was shot, Giffords returned to Capitol Hill to help House Democrats introduce a bill requiring background checks on private transactions related to gun sales.

In 2013, Giffords and her husband launched the website, “Americans for Responsible Solutions,” which focused on gun violence prevention and accountability to gun owners. It was later renamed “Giffords.”

Giffords’ taped speech was introduced by a video about her life released by actress Regina King.

“It was an honor to help share the story of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention,” King said in a statement. “Their determination to never remain silent, against all odds, should be an inspiration to us all.”