Hillary Clinton Delivers Painful Concession Speech Wednesday Morning

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Hillary Clinton wiped a tear from her eye, gathered herself and thanked her supporters and campaign workers at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning, delivering a painful concession, a speech no one among her ardent supporters expected or wanted to hear.

"Donald Trump is going to be our president," Clinton told the crowd. "We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead."

Hundreds of people equipped with raincoats and umbrellas crowded outside the New Yorker Hotel — mainly Clinton supporters, but also some neutral bystanders and even a man who repetitively screamed "bye bye Hillary" while laughing.

The woman who would not be president was not alone in her tears.

"I'm scared and I feel... I don't feel like I'm at home," a Clinton supporter named Serena told Patch before she started to sob. "I can't stop crying."

At the start of her speech, Clinton noted that a constitutional democracy relies on the peaceful transfer of power. Her speech marked a bitter end to her Democratic campaign, yet she encouraged her supporters to continue to advance the causes they care about and to never tire from making their voices heard.

"This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it," Clinton said.

Clinton reminded her supporters of her key hopes for America: make the economy work for everyone, secure the country and protect people of all races, religions and backgrounds.

"As a minority, this election has really shown the underlying racism that kind of still exists," a woman who requested anonymity told Patch. "I think ever since Obama became president, people just didn't like it."

Clinton thanked the Obamas for what she described as graceful, determined leadership. She showed her gratitude for her family and her campaign workers. She thanked the millions of volunteers, union organizers and community leaders who helped her campaign, and even thanked those who showed their support for her on social media platforms like Facebook.

"I'm here for Hillary to give us some hope, for all of us to stick together for the next four years," a woman named Anjalika, 24, told Patch outside the New Yorker Hotel. "Right now we just need to get together and make these four years count."

Clinton passionately addressed the women and young girls who put their faith in her campaign.

"Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling," Clinton said. "But someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.

"And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."

Clinton ended her speech, and most likely her 30-year political career, emotionally expressing her appreciation for being an American and to have represented the Democrats in this monumental election.

"My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart," Clinton said. "For there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do."

"How did we go from a Harvard law graduate to a reality, 'you're fired' type of thing?" a Clinton supporter, who prefers to stay anonymous, asked Patch. "It's kind of hard to look at the Statue of Liberty now."