Katie Phang

Some fell into depression, some carried shame that was never ours to carry.

For many of us, it has taken decades to overcome the impact of what happened.

Decades to heal and decades to speak.

And that is why I'm here tonight.

I am speaking out because the next generation deserves better.

Our children deserve a world where powerful people cannot harm others without consequence.

They deserve a world where survivors are protected, not punished for telling the truth.

They deserve a world where silence is not the price of safety.

I also want to say something that often gets lost in the noise.

I believe that most of humanity are good people.

Compassion, love, and peace are not abstract ideals, but are lived values.

I've seen them in the survivors who hold each other up.

I've seen them in the advocates who refuse to look away.

I've seen them in the people who quietly reach out and say, we believe you.

Tonight, as we gather for the people's State of the Union, we are reminded that protecting children is not a partisan issue.

It's a human one.

And it requires all of us, including every community, every family, every survivor, every ally, to all stand together in unity

My hope is simple, that in by sharing my story, I help create a space for others to share theirs.

And that together we build a future where no child's life is derailed by someone else's abuse of power.

And no survivor has to wait decades to be heard.