Hi Folks, I hope this message finds you well.

We are at a time for our country that is both deeply challenging and painful, but also at times, hopeful.

We continue to wage a battle against this virus, but our frontline workers and local businesses set an example for us all.

And we are having an important reckoning. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen a record number of people join this campaign, and sign up for emails like this one. Our team is growing! And thanks to your early support, we have a great campaign to welcome them.

It shows there is a keen interest in making sure we make this campaign as strong as we possibly can. I couldn't agree more.

So you know the drill, I’m going to take this time to update you on what I’ve been up to, where the campaign is moving, and some things I’m reading and thinking about.

I hope you enjoy it. I’m so glad you’re here, I’m so glad you’re on this team. We are better for having you here, and I am better for having a diverse and powerful coalition of people by my side.

Joe 

Campaign Updates

June marks Pride Month, and our campaign launched “Out for Biden,” a community for our LGBTQ+ supporters to get involved, volunteer, and be an important voice in our campaign. You can click to learn more and join here >>

Before yesterday, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love. But yesterday morning, the Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 ruling affirming that LGBTQ+ Americans are entitled to equal rights under the law. You can read my statement here.

The work is not yet finished. This month also saw an incredibly inhumane reversal of protections for transgender people by Trump’s Administration.

During Pride month. Four years to the day that a terrorist killed 49 people -- many in the LGBTQ+ community, at Pulse nightclub. It’s despicable, and unacceptable.

I’ve said it before, but transgender rights are one of the big civil rights issues of our time, and this is yet another example of what is on the line this election. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch a conversation I had last month that was very important to me:

This past week my campaign released an open letter to Facebook, demanding more accountability and significant changes to its ad policies. We saw in 2016 the role social media can play in swaying an election, especially the spreading of false information.

So far, Facebook has failed to enact any real reforms to stop the spread of disinformation on its platform. And with less than 150 days until Election Day, time is running out.

Read our open letter here and sign on to demand Facebook change its policies:

Like I mentioned earlier, my team and I released a plan for re-opening the economy in a way that is safe, smart, and intentional. You can read the Biden plan for an effective re-opening that jumpstarts the economy here.

My team has also been hard at work updating our COVID-19 plans for health and safety as well as for the economy with the latest information -- the kind of thing an administration should be tracking and updating. You can read all of my team's plans to date on the website here. I know these plans will help a lot of people, and I hope you will see some that will help you and your family.

Finally, this past week I had the honor of meeting the family of George Floyd in Houston, Texas. I promised them George would not just become another hashtag -- and I intend to keep that promise.

His family needs justice. His daughters need justice. And we need real police reform to ensure this never occurs again. Because when we do nothing -- it occurs again.

I’ve called on Congress to:

- Outlaw chokeholds,
- Improve oversight and accountability,
- Create a model use of force standard,
- And stop the transfer of weapons of war to local police forces.

It’s just a start, it’s nowhere near enough. But Congress can do it, and they needed to do it a long time ago.

You can join us in signing our petition that demands Congress ban chokeholds and pass the real reform we need urgently, now:

Hey, Joe!

Question from Nancy in New Jersey: This is a difficult time for us. I have two black sons, what would you tell them about the future of this country?
This moment is a wake-up call, it really is. Systemic racism is a deep wound in our society, and we cannot let this wound scab up again without addressing the underlying problems, or we’ll never fully heal. I would tell your sons that George Floyd’s words didn’t die with him. They are echoing across the country and they speak to a nation that has lost more than 117,000 people to a virus, where tens of millions of people have lost their jobs, and we can’t ignore that the Black community is being hit the hardest both in terms of health and economically. There are things we can and must do to chip away at systemic racism and reform law enforcement -- and with the right leadership we can make progress. And if I’m elected president I will not only lead on these issues, but I promise to listen, too.

Question from Jason in California: How do you stay positive right now?
For me, it all comes down to family. Especially my grandkids, who are smart and engaged and determined to make their mark on this country and leave it better than they found it. They inspire me. We will get through this, and we will do it by taking care of ourselves and one another.

Spread the Faith

Black-led organizations and nonprofits have seen an outpouring of support with people across the country donating to organizations, signing petitions, and joining movements. 

My campaign was able to fundraise for the NAACP, and I’m proud to report we raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through grassroots supporters such as yourself. I’m so grateful, and I want to keep up the momentum. 

If you’re able, will you consider donating to the NAACP if you haven’t already, or donating again if you already have? You can do that here:

What's Coming

Grassroots fundraiser with President Obama. Had to save this for last. On Tuesday, June 23rd, my friend Barack Obama and I are holding a virtual fundraiser for anyone who chips in to buy a ticket, any amount. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information and some more special opportunities surrounding the event.

In the meantime, you can chip in here any amount to buy your ticket and my team will send you a link to the virtual fundraiser on June 23rd:

Thanks for reading. It means a lot to me,

If you have any thoughts or questions for my newsletter, enter them here and my team will pass them along: go.joebiden.com/newsletter

And once again, thanks for sticking with me. I am so glad you’re here.

Take care,

Joe