At funeral for Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton urges fight for democracy, warns of fascism

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Speaking at the funeral of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described how her predecessor stood up to fascism and authoritarianism around the world and warned that it could happen in the U.S. Clinton urged the audience to “stand up to dictators and demagogues, from the battlefields of Ukraine to the halls of our own Capitol. Defend democracy at home just as vigorously as we do abroad.”

Video Transcript

HILLARY CLINTON: She continued to issue blunt warnings about the dangers posed by authoritarianism and fascism with undeniable moral clarity. Until the end, she was still in a hurry to do good. As Bill said, during the last phone call two weeks before she died, she talked about the importance of what President Biden is doing to rally the world against Putin's horrific invasion of Ukraine and the urgent work of defending democracy at home and around the world.

She knew better than most and she warned us in her book on fascism that, yes, it can happen here and time and courage are of the essence. The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season and a time and purpose under heaven-- a time to weep and a time to laugh. If Madeleine were here with us today, she would also remind us this must be a season of action.

And yes, once again, we must heed the wisdom of her life and the cause of her public service. Stand up to dictators and demagogues, from the battlefields of Ukraine to the halls of our own Capitol. Defend democracy at home, just as vigorously as we do abroad. Live up to the ideals of the country that welcomed an 11-year-old refugee sailing into New York Harbor on a ship called SS America and made her Secretary of State.

Let us honor Madeleine's life and legacy by being the indispensable nation she loved and served. And let us live, as she did, in a hurry to do the most good we can with every season under heaven. Godspeed, 59. God bless you, dear Madeline. We will never, ever forget you.