Dear Friend,

Today is my birthday—my team made me tell you that—and I have the privilege of spending it in safety and comfort. Not all have that privilege as we know.

I have spent the last days in awe of the protests and demonstrations I’ve seen and participated in, and of the courage and conviction in our communities and certainly in our youth.

With protests and demonstrations against police brutality—and all forms of injustice and racism—I have hope because it is on all of us to participate in this movement for social justice however we can.

If you're wondering where to start, I am asking—instead of donating to my campaign—join me on my birthday in donating to these worthy organizations:

And here's a link to split your donation between national organizations that are doing this critical work fighting for the rights of Black Americans across the country.

This fight for justice cannot end in platitudes. It must come with transformative and substantive policy work. In the coming days, I will be laying out those policies I'm signing onto.

This isn't the end—it's just the beginning.

In solidarity,

Madeleine Dean