Kerry: ‘Democracy Is a Work in Progress’ in the United States

‘We welcome the scrutiny, from the streets of New York City to Ferguson, Missouri ...’

"Democracy is not a final destination; it is an endless journey. And we see that right here at home. Believe me, we don’t speak out of one side of the mouth and another the other. I think America in these recent days has seen this and we own up to it. Even yesterday with the report that came out from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – we hold ourselves accountable to an ugly, horrible period, and we should be proud of our ability to do that ...

We know well here at home, as I mentioned a moment ago, that democracy is a work in progress. We know that the eyes of the world are on us, and as President Obama made clear in his address to the UN General Assembly, we welcome the scrutiny. 

From the streets of New York City to Ferguson, Missouri, we are learning in painful, searing ways that justice and equality are not things that you can just parse out to some and deny to others. And nor can you take for granted that everybody has what you think they have, but what you say is part of your fabric."

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