Hillary Clinton delivered a speech at the Children’s Defense Fund on Wednesday evening in what was her first public appearance since conceding the presidential race to Donald Trump.
Clinton came to the event because she was being honored by the organization for her contributions to it over the years. The former presidential candidate said that it was difficult for her to make it out here so soon after her crushing loss.
“I will admit, coming here tonight wasn’t the easiest thing for me,” she said. “There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again.”
Clinton went on to say, however, that the work of those at the Children’s Defense Fund inspired her to pick herself back up. She later said that she was deeply disappointed in the results of the election “more than I could ever express,” but that the campaign was never about one person or one election.
She also said that many Americans are afraid this week, recounting a story of meeting with a little girl who was afraid that her parents were going to be deported, saying that there is clearly a lot of work to do. Clinton recommended that Americans across the country get involved in their communities.
As a more positive sentiment, Clinton said that she was happy that there was a consensus in this campaign that there needed to be reforms made when it comes to child care and paid family leave.
Clinton concluded by telling her supporters to continue fighting for their values and to never give up.
“I know this isn’t easy,” she said. “I know that over the past week people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was…But please listen to this when I say this: America is worth it.”