Why Oprah Just Said America Needs “Open Arms and Not Closed Borders”

From Oprah Magazine

• Oprah delivered a keynote speech at a gala hosted to celebrate the new Statue of Liberty Museum in New York on Wednesday.

• Before stepping on stage, she said the statue and the museum serve as a reminder that America is "about an ideal, and that ideal is freedom for everybody."

Oprah Winfrey wants less hate, more acceptance.

On Wednesday, the O of O headed to Liberty Island to celebrate the opening of New York City’s new Statue of Liberty Museum, a 26,000-square-foot structure made possible with the fundraising support of fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. It was just before touring the museum that Oprah stopped and spoke to the press about the significance of the Statue of Liberty-and the place she wants our country to return to.

“It’s important that we establish that we are a country that has open arms and not closed borders for people. It’s important because we let people know why America is what it is. It’s about an ideal and that ideal is freedom for everybody,” she said, according to the Associated Press.

Given that it was her first visit to the Statue of Liberty, on Instagram, Oprah shared her enthusiasm with Gayle King, O’s editor at large, who also admitted she hadn’t seen the symbol of freedom so up close. “It’s pretty emotional when you see her this close for the first time, I gotta say. And what it represents for everybody who has come to this shore,” Oprah said. “Let freedom ring, y’all.”

Inside of the Gala to celebrate the museum-where Tony Bennet and Gloria Estefan served as performers-Winfrey was a keynote speaker along with Seth Myers.

“A ship would pull toward the harbor, and there she stood. 151-foot tall goddess holding a beacon of light,” Oprah said about the symbolism of the statue, according to ABC7-New York.

Let freedom ring for all, indeed.

For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter!