"No matter how you came to this farm before, no matter what identity you were told you would assume for the rest of your lives," Hesta's gaze swept over the faces in the audience once more, "every friend who came here in response to my Prophetic Dream, from today onward, you are free.
"Let me further explain what freedom means.
"First of all, you are now, in official government documents, truly free people. This means that everyone present has had their citizenship re-registered—including those sisters who are still receiving treatment in the hospital and have yet to return to us.
"Therefore, in legal terms, your freedom means that from today onward, you may migrate and choose your occupations as you wish, free from violent interference, threats, or intimidation.
"You are free, which means that from today onward, no one has the right to buy or sell you, beat you, or humiliate you. Like every other citizen on and beyond this farm, you are bound by the same laws and protected by the same laws, regardless of your origins or wealth."
Hesta paused briefly.
"This is a gift. I did not ask for your consent beforehand, so I will not force everyone to accept it—in fact, most of you are still unable to make use of this freedom.
"Because you have not yet mastered District 12's official language. You cannot write, and you cannot even understand what I am saying without an interpreter. This means that you cannot handle any of your own paperwork. Even if your identity documents were handed to you, they would be of no use to you.
"Then what use is such a document?
"Specifically, with it, you may legally enter and leave towns without being detained as escaped slaves or vagrants; you may demand wages and