John,

The deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd are only the most recent injustices in our country’s long history of police brutality against Black Americans.

Those of us in leadership must use government as a tool to build a more just society. We must not only say that Black Lives Matter, but enact policy that affirms they do. I have the privilege and obligation to fight for legislation and structural changes to address these problems.

I support Ayanna Pressley’s Resolution to Condemn Police Brutality which demands we:

✓ Formally condemn excessive use of force and racial profiling
✓ Establish community oversight of police
✓ Call on the DOJ to reinstate investigations of police misconduct

Here in Chicago, I also appreciate Superintendent David Brown’s advocacy and leadership, and I urge him to use his position to make profound change.

I am so heartened to see so many of my neighbors and community members across IL03 stand up, step into the streets, and make their voices heard.

And you can help at home, too. Consider giving to one of the below organizations who are doing great work to fight systemic racism, to bring people together, and to hold our leaders and institutions accountable.
 

• Support The Innocence Project who aims to free innocent people from incarceration and transform the legal system. 

• Support My Block, My Hood, My City, a Chicago based fund to help rebuild the South and West side following the city’s civil unrest. Their mission is to provide underprivileged children opportunities that centuries of systemic racism has prevented them from having.

• Support Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago. Through the creation of community-sourced resources, BSA strives to empower, embolden, and educate as they build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples.

Let's keep working, standing together and demanding a better world for each of us in it. 

In solidarity,

Marie