Hi,

I don't have words of comfort today. This last week has been a violent reminder of the deep-seated racism that has, in myriad ways, built and defined America.

The list of names keeps growing: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Lorenzo Dean, Eric Reason, Christopher McCorvey, Christopher Whitfield, Atatiana Jefferson, Dominique Clayton, Pamela Turner, Botham Jean, Antwon Rose II, Stephon Clark, Ronell Foster, Aaron Bailey, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Ahmaud Arbery, and more.

Remember the scores of Black men and women who have died at the hands of the police. Remember the scores of Black men and women who have died at the hands of racists who think they are above the law.

I am proud of the protesters who bravely and fiercely came together over the last many days to make a stand — in the middle of a pandemic — to honor those lost souls and to demand change. This is not a time to be quiet.

We have to work extra hard to help our women win this election cycle. We have to find hope in facing the past and affecting change for the future. There is hope in our work as we fulfill our commitment to elect Black women at all levels of government. We must raise our voices and do our part to work and fight for social justice and progress. I believe every one of our candidates can (and will) do that work.

We know the world looks a lot better when women are in charge. We know it would look a lot better in this country if we had true representation of Black women in our government. We are seeing powerful, compassionate leadership from women like Mayor London Breed, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and many others.

We can find our hope by getting those women reinforcements at every level of government.

I often say we're living through history. Let's remember this chapter as the one where we met unprecedented crises with unprecedented action and changed the world.

In solidarity,

Stephanie Schriock
President, EMILY's List