June 13, 2020

The Latest

Team, our nation is grappling with ongoing racism and white supremacy, which permeates our institutions today. The protests we’re seeing, the calls for police and other reform, the online posts supporting Black Lives Matter — these are all critical components in the fight for structural change. In the second edition of our newsletter, we’re sharing the latest from Team Tom, plus resources for you to take action.

✊Tom and his wife Kat joined protesters in San Francisco to support the Black Lives Matter movement and stand in solidarity with so many Black families who have lost loved ones at the hands of police.
🎧 Tom discussed addressing structural racism through just, equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession — and how the California Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery is working to do exactly that. Listen here.
🌎 Tom has joined together with Climate Leaders for Biden to help fundraise for Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign, while elevating climate change as a top priority. So far, the group has raised over $7.4 million to elect Joe Biden and defeat Trump this November. If you haven’t already, pledge to vote for Joe.

Community Circle

Shoutout to Team Tom all-star Betsy G. who has been very hands-on in her COVID-19 relief effort. Check out her handiwork!

“On mask #87. Haven’t sewn in over 40 years. First one was inside out 🙄. Now I can make them with a nose wire!” — Betsy

If you want a chance to be featured in the next Community Circle, respond to this prompt: What have you done to support the Black Lives Matter movement?

Send your stories and pictures in a reply to this email, share in our Facebook group, or post it on Twitter or Instagram (making sure to tag @TomSteyer).

Action Toolkit

The Justice in Policing Act proposed by the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the House Judiciary Committee Chair, and Senators Booker and Harris includes several key changes that will reform our police departments. Email your representative to urge them to pass this important bill.

To truly address racism in America, we need sweeping changes — not just band-aid fixes, but system overhauls. And that means everyone needs to vote this November to usher in new leadership who will see it through. Make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address.

Worth a Review: Having the awkward conversation

An unprecedented number of Americans and people around the world have taken to the streets in protest of racial injustice. These marches are important to drive the national conversation toward meaningful change.

Equally important are the conversations happening on a smaller scale between friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Unlike joining a public protest or posting on social media, having these discussions can be incredibly personal and may even feel awkward at times — but they’re also one of the most powerful ways to effect real change. Tom challenges all of us to have that awkward conversation — it’s how we learn. It’s how we as a nation can start embodying justice and start being not just non-racist, but actively anti-racist.

Our team will be watching this video featuring University of Washington professor Dr. Robin DiAngelo (author of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism) to learn how we can do better. It’s a great resource to start understanding why these talks are difficult and thus even more necessary.

Tom’s take: “We all must raise our voices against white supremacy and unite behind major structural change. We know that empathy is not a zero-sum game, that we are stronger together, and that we cannot tackle the huge challenges facing our country — and our world — without having open, honest conversations.”

Be inspired

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here for our weekly Worth Fighting For. Share this update.

We want to make sure you're receiving relevant information about how you can help us do what's right. If you’d rather not receive any emails from us, you can unsubscribe by clicking here — we'll be sad to see you go!

Tom Steyer 2020 · PO Box 626 · San Francisco, CA 94104 · USA

Paid for by Tom Steyer 2020