John,

For those of you who many not be familiar with my personal story, I’d like to share a bit of it with you:

My family came here as refugees after World War II. Having just lost many relatives, friends, and neighbors in the Holocaust, they found hope and safety on America’s shores, and they taught me to love this country by showing me what was possible with the freedom and security that a democracy provided. 

The Fourth of July is supposed to be a celebration of American independence, freedom, and liberty and justice for all. And while I still carry a deep love and gratitude for my country, I do believe that we have lost our way.

Last week, the Supreme Court weakened non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans at a time when our community is facing record-levels of persecution and hate. They scrapped a plan to free millions of working-class Americans from the crushing burden of student loan debt. They eliminated rules that encourage racial diversity in classrooms. And last summer, they overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping millions of Americans of their right to reproductive freedom.

This July Fourth, we need to ask ourselves: Is America really encouraging liberty and justice for all – or just for some? There is so much more work to do before we can truly celebrate the freedom of all Americans. 

This country can still be a beacon of justice and freedom, and a safe haven for people like my father and his family – but we have to fight for it. On this Independence Day, I’m recommitting myself to the fight for freedom in all of its forms: reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, racial justice, disability justice, LGBTQ+ liberation, and every movement in between. Each and every one of these causes is intertwined – and our collective liberation will only come when all of us are free. 

Yours, 

Becca Balint