Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at Seneca Falls Women's March and Rally for Reproductive Rights

Today, speaking at the Women's March and Rally for Reproductive Rights at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, Governor Kathy Hochul reaffirmed New York's commitment to upholding women's rights and the need to continue the fight to protect these rights as other states work to limit them.

VIDEO of the Governor's remarks is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO of today's remarks is available here.

PHOTOS are available on the Governor's Flickr page.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Thank you, Sue Scheuerman for all you've done in leading us to rallies after rallies after rallies. You have actually channeled the voices and the ghosts of the women who came before us and are a living embodiment that the fight goes on. Let's give a round of applause to Susan and all the women who come here year after year to continue the fight. Michelle Casey is here, our president and CEO of Planned Parenthood New York is here. Thank you for being here as well. Mickey Belosi is here, president of Central New York NOW is here, and thousands and thousands of people all across this state and this nation are unified in one cause - to fight for women's reproductive rights and it starts here, right here right now.

It is fitting that we come to this place where 300 bold, audacious women found their way in 1848, women joined by the enlightened men of their time, as well. Let's get a little round of applause, the enlightened men who join us in our fight, people like my husband, Bill Hochul, the first first gentlemen of New York who's joined me as well. Son-in-law Matt Gloudeman, these are the men who are at our sides as we continue these fights.

But for me this is personal. This is very personal because I'm also joined by a young woman. Come on up here, Katie. This is the young woman, my daughter Katie Hochul, who I will continue to fight for her rights as long as I can take a breath and then she will carry on the fight for her children and her grandchildren. That's what we're doing because we are sharing the torch today and someday I'll be passing the torch to all the young women, the torch that is in my hands from the women of Seneca Falls.

They have fought so long and hard, the women of Seneca Falls. If we don't draw inspiration from them, if we don't understand what they went through, the fight that they never had a chance to see, realize and accomplish, the fight for women's rights, the rights to be not treated as property of men and told what to do by men. One hundred seventy-three years ago that was happening - today it's happening in places like Texas and Georgia and Missouri and we have to stop that. Women have to stand up for their rights and we have to say, it is over.

So yes, get your damn hands off our bodies because we are sick and tired of being sick and tired, as Fannie Lou Hamer famously said a long time ago. She said, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired. And I know we've got the fighting spirit in us. We love to do this. We like a good fight. Let's get that out there. But the fight that my mother had to fight when she was young, the fight that I fought when I was younger should not be a fight that Katie in her thirties fights today for reproductive health.

New Yorkers will continue to lead the way just like in 1917 we were three years ahead of the rest of the nation in earning the right to vote for women. In 1970 we were three years ahead of the nation in ensuring reproductive health rights right here in the State of New York. And in 2021 we are laying down the gauntlet once again - if you are in a state where oppression is the law of the land, you come to New York and just like we have Lady Liberty at our Harbor who stood there since 1886 saying, send me those who've been oppressed, you will find a safe harbor in our state. We offer a safe harbor now today in 2021 and forward to the women across this nation.

Fifty-eight percent of reproductive age women are living in states where their rights are under assault. You come to New York and you'll be part of our family. We'll take care of you, make sure you have the health care you deserve. You come right here. And I see a sign from someone from Texas right now. You're from Texas? You are part of the New York family starting right here right now.

So my friends, thank you for joining, thank you for carrying the torch and be prepared that while we have the torch in our hands it will glow even brighter and stronger, and that's what I'm going to continue to do as your first female governor, something I take so seriously - that the voices of the women in this, the women who fought so hard, I have to carry that on on their behalf.

And we will succeed, we will be strong and we will prove once and for all that women can lead with strength but also with heart and conviction. That is what we're going to do. We're going to do it together, my friends. Thank you for being here today.