John,

77 years ago today, Jackie Robinson made his MLB debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, shattering the color barrier in professional baseball. It's hard to overstate exactly how important this day was for our nation and the role it played in setting us on the path towards ending segregation in America. As part of today's celebrations, we honor not only his unmatched talent on the field, but also his legacy as an American.

Jackie Robinson is a hero to every American.

He was the greatest player of a generation, who also happened to be as influential and outspoken off the field as he was on it. To millions of Black Americans, he represented hope and an America where the color of a person's skin did not determine their fate.

Jackie was an ardent civil rights champion. Unafraid to use his platform to change hearts and minds, he raised the level of debate in our nation and shared a vision of hopes that one day our country could live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all.

But we are all still learning lessons from him. Today, you hear rhetoric meant to stoke fear and prey on hatred. It has seeped into our politics. Some leaders have lost sight of the ideas and values which this nation was founded upon. Jackie Robinson was a man who knew what it meant to Stand Tall for All, and it is our responsibility to carry his courage in the face of today's hatred.

Today, we honor Jackie Robinson, an American hero, and recommit ourselves to continuing his legacy every day.

Stand Tall for All,

J.D.