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The Dawn of our Freedom - Words from Nelson Mandela
April 27, 1994

Let us vote in such overwhelming numbers
that we show everyone
how much we love our country,
how much we love our people,
how much we love peace,
how much we love life itself.

Today is a day like no other before it. It marks the dawn of our freedom.
As we travelled around every part of our country we saw your misery.
We shared your hopes and dreams.

Now your day has come, because this election is about you. It is your
election. It is your vote that counts.

Years of imprisonment could not stamp out our determination to be free.
Years of intimidation and violence could not stop us. And we will not be
stopped now.

You hold the future in your hands. And now is the time to rise to the
challenge. Standing together, let us send a message loud and clear: we
will not let a handful of killers steal our democracy. Our surest way to
stop them, and to bring peace, is to cast our vote.

We will show the world that we are determined to stand up against the
violence, determined to vote for a better life for all.
Nelson Mandela - 27 April 1994

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