This is from a 2001 speech by current SEIU VP, Eliseo Medina, to the Democratic Socialists of America. Fellow SEIU VP, Anna Burger is an economic advisor to Obama. Medina has appeared before the Senate Immigration Subcommittee to testify on behalf of comprehensive imigration reform.

"Let me say how much I appreciate your invitation to be here with you tonight. And I wanted to say that, when I got the invitation, I really wanted to be here tonight for three reasons. The first reason is that I wanted to thank you, the Democratic Socialists of America, for answering the call when America needed you. You know the DSA has been the consistent strong voice of progressive America, and at a time when we are facing a difficult situation in this country, you continue to stand up and speak for the issues of workers’ rights, civil rights, and for social justice. And I want to say to you how much that means to the people of America, because, thanks to you and your efforts, America is a better place for all of us. Thank you for everything you’ve done.

"But the second reason I wanted to be here with you tonight is personal. You know, I came to this country when I was 10 years old as an immigrant from Mexico, and I moved to a little town called Delano in the central valley of California where, at the age of 15, I left school to go to work in the fields to help support my family. And I was fortunate to join a farm workers’ strike. And then one day Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez said to me, “We’d like you to go to Chicago and stop the sale of grapes.â€