[0:01] [Music] [0:28] you break up [0:35] this it's Crash back to it to start the broadcast [0:41] but now it's oh I I have to refresh have to [0:47] refresh we [1:06] [Music] [1:17] I think there will be a copy of the voter registration form on the screen there it [1:23] is if you follow along with a little red [1:28] dot um then you'll be able to check and make sure your forms been filled out [1:34] accurately but on behalf of the League of Women Voters congratulations on becoming United States citizens and as a [1:42] citizen you are eligible to vote in local state and national [1:50] elections and the right to vote may be new for some of you but it gives you the [1:56] possibility of helping to decide who will lead our [2:01] government please use your very best writing on the form because if they cannot read it they'll not be able to [2:08] process the information it is not required that you [2:16] register to vote today it is voluntary but you will save [2:21] yourself a lot of time and effort if you register today because then your name will be at [2:30] the polling place the place where you go to vote in [2:35] November I'm sure you're all aware that there is a very big election happening in [2:42] November and by registering today you will not have to wait first in the line [2:47] to register and second in the line to actually vote you'll be able to cut out [2:53] one of those lines and save yourself a lot of time believe me [3:00] once you have registered you do not need to register again every year as long as [3:07] you vote every one or two years your name stays on the [3:13] roster you only need to fill out another registration form if you move or change [3:20] your name and then you would need to update your registration information [3:30] you have the Minnesota voter registration did anyone not get one or not find one in their [3:35] envelope and you have a Ballo pit if you are changing your name during [3:42] this ceremony if you have filled out all the [3:48] proper information when you went for your interview at the [3:53] USCIS and that your citizenship paper is coming in your new name that is a name [4:00] you need to use on the voter registration form when you get your citizenship paper [4:06] at the end of the ceremony check and make sure that the registration went [4:11] through the way you expected it to the name change excuse me went [4:17] through the way you expected it to we will collect the forms with the [4:23] help of our students at the exit doors as you are leaving and I believe [4:30] there are Refreshments that will be outside of that exit door and that [4:36] corner and there also is a voting machine so since you have not voted [4:43] before you may not realize what the voting machine actually looks like and [4:48] how it works so you will have the opportunity uh to look at that machine [4:55] and see just how it manages your ballot when you go to vot [5:03] November we will collect the forms as I mentioned and take them directly to the [5:08] Secretary of State's office following this ceremony they send them to the county [5:15] and the county processes the information and if they can read everything if they REM you remember to [5:22] sign it you will receive a small postcard that looks like this in the [5:28] mail I understand some counties use blue some green some pink and some white so just [5:35] watch for a postcard that has a lot of very tiny [5:41] print on one side but on the addressy side there is information telling you [5:48] you are registered to vote and where you will go to vote on Election [5:55] Day we hope that you become active participants in the political process [6:02] learn about the candidates and the issues and feel free to ask questions [6:09] and feel free to voice your own opinion because democracy does work best when we [6:14] are all involved looking at the form that's on the screen and following the Little Red [6:22] Dot line one you may Mark yes you are a citizen because we will not take these [6:30] from you until you are line two are you 18 years of age or [6:37] older it's my understanding you have to be 18 to go through today's ceremony so [6:43] check the yes box on line two line three is your name your last [6:51] name followed by your first name and your middle name if you have one and [6:56] again if you are changing your name during this ceremony if your citizenship [7:02] paper is coming in your new name that's the name you need to use on the voter [7:08] registration form line four is your address the [7:13] street number apartment number if you have one followed by your city and your [7:19] ZIP code line five only needs to be filled [7:25] out if you receive your mail at a post office box or or at an address different [7:31] from where you live line six is your date of birth it's [7:38] that American Style with the month excuse me the month first then the day [7:44] and then the year in the middle of the line is School [7:49] District that does not mean where you went to school or where you go to school [7:56] it means this is the district where you live and you will will be able to vote for school board members in that [8:03] District if you know the number of the district write it in if you don't you [8:08] can write in your city's name or you can leave it blank at the end of the line is County [8:16] not country County a little hard to see if the lights aren't bright enough if [8:22] you live in miniapolis you live in henen County if you live in St Paul you live [8:29] in Ramsey County if you live in a different city and do not know your [8:34] County's name ask us we can look it [8:39] up section seven is very important it is a security check it makes sure you are [8:47] who you say you are and that you are eligible to vote so check the box that [8:54] you will be using for your identity [8:59] if you own a Minnesota driver's license or a Minnesota state ID card check the [9:06] top box and in the 12 boxes that follow at the end of that volume write in the [9:13] number that is below your picture on either that Minnesota driver's license [9:19] or that Minnesota ID card then if you do not own [9:26] one but you do have a Social Security number check the second box and write [9:33] just the last four numbers of your Social Security number in the four boxes [9:39] at the end of that line and if you don't own either of those three any of those PR documents a [9:47] license the ID card or have a Social Security number check the third box but [9:53] you will be checked on to make sure that you are eligible to vote [10:01] the next section called registration updates is not for you that is only for [10:06] people who have registered to vote before and have moved or changed their [10:12] name as you are just becoming citizens today that should be left blank if you [10:19] accidentally wrote something in justs draw a line through it it will be [10:25] fine then read the statements that you are swearing to and sign your name by the X near the [10:34] bottom of the form sign it now you're going to be way too excited at the end of the ceremony [10:40] to remember to sign up then let us know if you have any [10:46] questions we'll be happy to check your form to make sure that it's been filled out [10:51] accurately please rer the B for penss and put the form somewhere where it's [10:58] very easy to pull out as you are leaving and again enjoy the [11:04] refreshments and be sure to check out that voting machine thank you [11:12] [Applause] [11:20] [Music] [11:39] [Music] [11:46] early [11:59] never [12:47] [Music] a [12:56] problem hell no [13:08] go go [13:58] wel [14:18] what [14:57] see [15:07] good afternoon everyone my name is Officer fluger I'm a representative with the United States [15:14] citizenship and Immigration Services I have some important announcements before the ceremony begins you are invited to [15:21] use your camera to take as many pictures as you like men should remove their hats or the [15:28] Caps unless born for religious reasons all cell phones should be turned [15:33] off when you receive your certificate at the end of the ceremony please check to see that your name is spelled correctly [15:41] your birth date is correct and if you have changed your name your new name appears on the certificate and you have [15:48] a sealed copy of your name change petition inside the sleeve with your [15:54] certificate if there are Corrections please contact a CIS representative [16:00] immediately so that we may investigate the discrepancies in 2 weeks you should [16:06] contact the Social Security Administration to update your citizenship and immigration status all [16:13] interpreters who are accompanying an applicant should adhere to the following instructions when the oath of Allegiance [16:19] is administered when directed by the judge instruct the applicant to stand raise [16:26] their right hand and repeat the oath of Allegiance as the judge is administering the oath [16:31] of Allegiance in English interpret the oath to the applicant in his or own own [16:36] language giving the applicant sufficient time to repeat each line of the oath [16:42] congratulations in advance [Applause] [17:18] [Music] sooud [17:23] we last who and Bri [17:30] through the for [17:38] [Music] [17:49] theck through the [17:59] [Music] I for the [18:06] land the and [18:11] the of the [18:19] [Applause] [18:29] ni [19:16] all right United [19:22] stes of Minnesota is now in session The Honorable Catherine a con presided [19:30] please be [19:35] seated good afternoon and welcome to this naturalization ceremony and special [19:41] session of the Court my name is Katherine Constantine and I'm a judge the United States Bankruptcy Court for [19:48] the District of Minnesota today very soon I will greet [19:54] you all as citizens of the United States of America a status [19:59] which confers both protections and responsibilities the first time I [20:06] attended a naturalization ceremony I sat where you're sitting right now I sat sat [20:11] beside my parents and watched and shared as they became citizens of the United States today we will welcome 20 new [20:19] citizens you come from 16 different countries from all parts of the globe I [20:25] am also pleased to introduce our other participants in today's ceremony they are Miss Bell and Miss mlan of the [20:33] office of the clerk of the United States district court and Melissa pler and other staff from the US citizenship and [20:41] Immigration Services officer or office I should say I've already heard the [20:46] national anthem so typically we would stand for that but instead we will go to the Welcome by Molly a South View Middle [20:55] School student Molly are you around someplace [21:08] [Music] good afternoon ladies and gentlemen my [21:13] name is Molly I am an eighth grader here at South View Middle School and this is my second year in D to be real a group [21:20] of anti-racist student leaders on behalf of our Adina Community I'd like to say [21:25] congratulations to you all we all know you worked so hard and this is the moment you have been waiting for as [21:32] author Paul Greenberg says today is a very special occasion a kind of baptism [21:37] wedding confirmation commencement Fourth of July and Thanksgiving all rolled into [21:43] one we are glad to be here to honor and celebrate your new citizenship and know [21:48] that you are proof of this country is still the country it is set out to be as its founding have an amazing rest of the [21:55] day congratulations thank you [22:00] [Applause] [22:07] I will now read the names of each country represented by today's applicants and I ask each of you to [22:14] stand as your native land is red then please remain standing until all [22:20] countries are named then it will be time for the o [22:28] I'm putting on my glasses so I can see you when you stand up Bosnia [22:36] heroina Canada [22:43] Ethiopia India [22:50] Kenya la laia [22:58] People's Republic of China [23:07] Nepal Nigeria [23:16] Russia United Kingdom [23:25] Burma Guana [23:32] Ghana Somalia The [23:42] Gambia please remain standing while Allison fluger our lead [23:49] Immigration Services officer makes a motion on behalf of the United States [24:01] her honor if it pleases the court the government recommends the oath of Allegiance be administered to 20 [24:06] applicants for naturalization who have been interviewed and whose applications have been approved they are permanent [24:13] residents of the United States and have resided with the St Paul Minnesota district for the required 3mon period [24:20] they are persons of good moral character who are attached to the principles of the Constitution and form of government [24:26] of the United States the government recommends that the court administer the oath of Allegiance as required by law so [24:33] that the applicants may be admitted to citizenship and that the name changes requested in the petitions be [24:44] granted it is with great pleasure that I grant your motion and now I will administer the [24:51] oath of citizenship please raise your right hand and repeat after me [24:59] I solemnly swear swear that I will support and defend I will support the Constitution [25:08] and laws of the United States of America United States against all [25:15] enemies foreign and domestic all enemies for Dom that I give [25:20] up and surrender any allegiance to any king queen or Prince [25:31] or to any state or country country which I have held up [25:36] until this day that as a citizen of the United [25:43] States United States I will when lawfully directed I will direct bear [25:50] arms or perform non-combatant [25:56] service in the AR forces of the United States of the United States or I will [26:03] when directed I will directed perform non-military service per nonary service [26:10] on behalf of the United States on of the United States I take these obligations [26:15] freely take obligations fre without any purpose of [26:21] evasion and declare today that I amclare to that I am a citizen of the United [26:27] States of America so help me [26:33] God please be [Applause] [26:46] seated ladies and gentlemen it is my privilege to be the first to congratulate you on your new [26:54] citizenship we in the United States courts applaud you for all of the work [26:59] and Achieve achievements that have led to this day I also want to acknowledge [27:04] the struggles and hardships that were necessary in making this day possible [27:10] war and revolution brought some of you to this country seeking safety all of you have left your Homeland family and [27:17] good friends you have had to find a home and a job you have had to adjust to a [27:24] new culture and a new way of life I know know for many of you this oath of [27:30] citizenship represents a dream a dream come true you may have had this dream [27:35] since childhood perhaps it came to you only as an adult it is my sincere wish [27:42] for each of you on this very special day that you will continue to dream and that [27:47] all of your dreams come true I realize that for many of that for [27:52] many of you a difficult part of the oath of Allegiance you just took is the part where you announced allegiance to any [28:00] foreign state or sovereignty this means that you must no [28:05] longer swear allegience to the government of any other country but you do not need to give up [28:11] your heartfelt love for the country where you were born the people who live there and its history and its culture [28:19] and we encourage you to keep alive the memories Traditions the dress and the food you grow up with even as you learn [28:26] more of those of the United States and adopt them for your own as [28:31] well you will be free to do all of these things this freedom to follow many and [28:37] different cultur cultures is treasured in the United States make the most of it [28:43] without doubt without regret you will become another part of the huge pattern of humanity that the United States has [28:51] always been our country has always been stronger and has become stronger from [28:57] its diversity you are free to think on your own and to [29:02] form your own opinions you may openly voice these opinions even if very few [29:09] people agree with you you are free to work where you want to work to read what [29:15] you want to read to say what you want to say and you are free to believe what [29:21] your heart tells you to believe to openly adhere to any religion or to no [29:26] religion at all there is no single American way to think [29:31] or believe indeed having only one way of thought and belief throughout our United [29:38] States would be contrary to the underlying principles of this great [29:43] nation as an American citizen you are free to follow your own path wherever it [29:49] may lead you but with that freedom also comes [29:55] responsibility the freedom of democracy comes with the responsibility to participate in the Democratic process by [30:03] voting and by educating yourselves so that you can make informed choices when you vote democracy only works when its [30:11] members all of you have developed their thoughts and opinions to the point that [30:16] they can share them by casting a ballot make your own choices don't make them [30:21] out of fear or other hatred make them out of knowledge learn as much as you [30:27] can about the C candidates and the issues in any election in which you vote Thomas Jefferson our third [30:33] president said that a people cannot expect to be both ignorant and [30:40] free he meant of course that the citizens of a democracy must become as [30:45] educated as possible in order to make the best choices for themselves and for their country if we choose our leaders [30:52] wisely our leaders will respect all of us in preserving the freedoms that we [31:01] cherish and that underlines one other responsibility of citizens in a [31:06] democracy use your schools to educate yourselves in all ways that you can make [31:11] sure that your children girls and boys alike gain as much education as they can [31:17] the United States has one of the most respected Educational Systems in the world our public schools and our public [31:25] colleges and universities are there for you the freedom of democracy also carries a [31:32] responsibility to your community to those around you Democratic societies [31:37] only work when the people who live there get along when they're tolerant of one [31:43] another please please care for your family and for your neighbors and be kind to the people around you extend a [31:50] caring hand to those in need those who do not have as much as you have give [31:56] freely of your time as a volunteer we here in Minnesota give more [32:02] of our time as volunteers than anywhere else in the United States we invite you [32:08] to join us in that our country will only continue to thrive as a great nation if [32:14] we do these things as new citizens you can set an example of compassion and tolerance for [32:20] everyone to follow our wish for all of our new citizens today is that you have and [32:27] develop that pride and that love of your adopted country that this country has for its people now including you each of you has [32:36] our best wishes as you begin your life as an American citizen [32:42] congratulations and now a message from our President [32:48] Obama it's an honor and a privilege to call you a fellow citizen of the United [32:53] States of America this is now officially your country your home to protect to [32:59] defend and to serve through active and engaged citizenship together we are a nation [33:06] United not by any one culture or ethnicity or ideology but by the [33:11] principles of opportunity equality and Liberty that are enshrined in our [33:17] founding Gods today marks a very special day in your life you've traveled a long path to [33:24] get here you sworn a solom hope this country and now you have all the rights [33:30] of citizenship with the Privileges of citizenship though come great [33:35] responsibilties and so I ask that you use your freedoms and your talents to contribute to the good of our nation and [33:42] the world always remember that in America no dream is [33:47] impossible like the millions of immigrants who have come before you you have the opportunity to enrich this [33:53] country through your contributions to Civic Society is culture and your community you can help [34:01] write the next great chapter in our American story and together we can keep [34:06] the beacon that is America burning bright for all the world to see I'm proud to welcome as a new [34:14] citizen of this country may God bless you and may God continue to bless the [34:20] United States of America [Applause] [34:35] [Music] [34:52] Oh beautiful for you [35:00] through in liberating [35:05] [Music] [35:14] St country love and [35:19] mercy oh [Music] [35:29] America oh [Music] [35:34] am make God that [Music] [35:48] go be no and every [35:56] [Music] [36:04] Oh beautiful [36:12] for for waves [36:19] of for purple m [36:27] [Music] Majesty the [36:36] [Music] fruit [Music] [36:42] am oh Amica God [36:49] shed shed his grace on [36:58] and crown that good with [37:05] Brotherhood from sea to [37:11] shine [37:16] seea [37:24] [Music] America sh [37:34] me and [Music] cry oh yes [37:42] he see To [Music] [37:50] Shine from sea to sh [38:02] [Music] [38:09] [Applause] [38:19] see now I ask Alysa Lizzy AA and ala [38:25] students at the South Middle School to uh come up with me and join me in [38:31] leading the Pledge of Allegiance and while we're waiting for them um I would state that in the United [38:39] States as you all know we cherish the flag that has flown Over Us in peace and [38:45] in war it's a symbol of our Union the coming together of many different parts [38:51] one single strong country and now please [38:59] join these students on South middle middle school and me in saying the [39:05] Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and to our country's principles please stand [39:28] to the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands one [39:36] nation God indivisible withy and justice for [39:49] all nicely done thank you please be [39:54] seated this is truly a wonderful day I'd like to thank the US citizenship and [40:00] immigration services staff members of the leue of Women Voters the students [40:06] teachers and other staff in the South View Middle Middle School sorry I'm [40:11] having a hard time with that today South View Middle School and all other persons from the Twin City Community who have [40:18] worked hard on making today's event so very special so welcome everyone here [40:24] the story of America goes on with you you for the presentation of certificates [40:30] please remain seated for presentation by the CIS staff if any of you would like to have a photo with the flag and with [40:37] me or with your family uh Miss Bell from The District Court will show you where [40:42] to line up congratulations we're Jed [40:49] [Applause] [41:18] that's [41:33] receive friends and family [Music] [42:02] [Music] [42:10] all all right good [42:22] [Music] [42:32] con [Music] [43:23] yes the one [Music] [43:50] told [43:57] w [44:55] really [45:03] te [45:28] I [45:58] B [46:24] [Applause] [46:44] I [47:13] line [47:29] over [48:03] so I get this