Taking part in a roundtable discussion on homeland security at USC, former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said today Americans cannot “give in to panic and fear” in the face of terrorism.
“We cannot allow our nation to be pitting groups of people against one another,” Clinton said at the USC Ronald Tutor Campus Center. “We cannot give in to panic and fear. That’s not in keeping with our values. It’s not effective in protecting us and it plays into the hands of terrorists who want nothing more than to intimidate and terrorize people, turn (us) against each other, which leads to radicalizing more people and creating even more problems for us.”
Emphasizing the need for everyday people to play a role in combating terrorism, Clinton spoke about a taxi driver who unknowingly took three terrorist bombers to Belgium’s airport this week.
“This gentleman … heard about the attacks and immediately wondered whether the three passengers he had taken to the airport that day, who he thought were somewhat strange-acting, could have been involved,” she said. “What he did was reach out immediately to law enforcement and say, ‘I picked up these three men and I can tell you where I picked them up.”‘
She said that cab driver led police to a terrorist stronghold.
Clinton was greeted at the event by Mayor Eric Garcetti, who introduced her as “in my opinion, the next president of the United States.”
Garcetti spoke during the roundtable discussion, noting, “As a global city, we reflect the world.” He added that the group had assembled to talk about “a dangerous time, a worrying time, a difficult time.”
The roundtable discussion — hastily arranged in the midst of a Clinton fundraising swing — came one day after Clinton used a speech at Stanford University to further outline her strategy for defeating the Islamic State group.
“We face an adversary that is constantly adapting and operating across multiple theaters, so our response must be just as nimble and far-reaching,” Clinton said.
“Second, to defeat this transnational threat, we need to reinforce the alliances that have been core pillars of American power for decades. And third, we need to rely on what actually works, not bluster that alienates our partners and doesn’t make us any safer.”
While in Los Angeles, Clinton will also appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and speak at two fundraisers for her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination today during her ninth trip to the Los Angeles area since declaring her candidacy on April 12, 2015.
The appearance will be the 68-year-old Clinton’s second on the ABC late- night talk show. Her Nov. 5 appearance included joining children in a discussion of whether a woman could be president.
Clinton’s first fundraiser will be a late-afternoon event at the Santa Monica home of Julia Franz and Chris Silbermann.
Tickets are $2,700, the maximum individual contribution under federal law to a candidate seeking a party’s presidential nomination, according to an invitation obtained by City News Service.
Individuals raising $10,000 for what the campaign is billing as a “Conversation with Hillary Rodham Clinton” will be designated as co-hosts and receive an invitation to a reception with fellow co-hosts and be able to have their picture taken with Clinton.
Silbermann is a co-founder of the talent agency ICM Partners. Franz, his wife, has produced such television series as “State of Affairs,” “Men at Work” and “Made in Jersey.”
The couple hosted a $33,400-per-person Democratic National Committee fundraiser in 2015, when President Barack Obama took part in a roundtable discussion.
Following her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Clinton will speak at an evening event at the Avalon Hollywood nightclub, which will also include performances by the singers Estelle and Ben Harper. Hip-hop music magnate Russell Simmons will serve as master of ceremonies. Tickets start at $500, with a $1,000 ticket giving the donor “preferred viewing,” according to the invitation.
Individuals raising $10,000 will be designated as co-hosts and receive an invitation to a reception with fellow co-hosts and be able to have their picture taken with Clinton.
Clinton has held 20 fundraisers during her previous visits to the Los Angeles area during the 2016 campaign cycle.
Today’s events conclude a three-day series of fundraisers by Clinton. She held a fundraiser in Medina, Washington, Tuesday and and two in Northern California Wednesday, according to the website PoliticalPartyTime.org, which tracks political fundraisers.
