Friends,

In recent days, we have been riveted by events unfolding across our country.  From coast to coast, Americans are making their voices heard in marches, protests, and memorial events remembering George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the many others before them, and demanding justice.

On Tuesday, I joined the 60,000 people who marched peacefully in downtown Houston with the family of George Floyd, who grew up in the Third Ward, not far away.  Marching with the Floyd family were elected officials from every level of government, law enforcement officers, and thousands and thousands of people from every corner of our diverse community, even cowboys on horseback.

Those marching here in Houston brought to our city hall a message of hope in this time of grief: that it is time for change and that we are the ones who can change things.

It is time now to move forward with thoughtful and meaningful reform, partnering with law enforcement and working together to achieve our shared goals.  But it is not just law enforcement that we must look to.  It is also the laws being enforced that we must look at – for discriminatory intent, for disparate impact – and work together for change.

We can do these things.  As long as we have leaders who are willing to do them — and to lead us — at every level of government.  Leaders who listen.  Leaders who care.  And that is our job: to elect them.

We have seen that commitment from so many of our leaders — here in Houston and across the country — to hear this message and to do this work.  Unfortunately, some people are exploiting this moment to commit acts of violence and vandalism that seek to undermine the message of the many who are in pain across our country.  While we must, of course, respond to dangerous and destructive actions, we must not let that overshadow the message of peaceful, hopeful protest.  Because the message is one we all must hear and the goal is one we all must work toward: justice.

I am grateful to be a part of this community, and to be able to be a part of moving our country forward on the path of progress, and I am committed to doing so.  Together, we can meet this moment.  Together, we can make meaningful change.

Together, we can do anything.