Hey,

When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, the United States ended slavery -- but some in the Confederate South hid this information from free men and women.

It wasn't until two years later that the last of America's enslaved people were finally free. It's now known as Juneteenth, a day of independence for the Black community.

But while tomorrow is a celebration of strength, community, and perseverance, true freedom for Black Americans is still a work in progress.

Generational wealth, disparities in health care outcomes, education, a broken criminal justice system, voter suppression -- the building blocks of systemic racism are embedded in every facet of American culture and society today. And it's up to us to fight back together.

So this Juneteenth, I invite you to commit to taking action with me. Whether you join a march or donate what you can, let me know what you'll do to help dismantle systemic racism and fight for racial justice tomorrow or this weekend:

We need to keep up pressure at every level of government to stand up against systemic racial injustices.

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in our country, but it was not the end of the ongoing struggle for Black Americans to have their full freedom in a country built to exclude them because of the color of their skin. This is not going to be easy -- but it is going to be necessary. So please, friend, let me know how you'll take action for racial justice today.

Thank you,

Jason