Friend,

Today is Independence Day for our country — but not for us.

Black, brown, and Indigenous Americans were left out when America claimed its sovereignty in 1776. Over 200 years later, 2020 proves the fight for our independence is far from over.

Those of us who have been at best discounted and ignored — and at worst persecuted, exploited, and murdered — are demanding accountability and change. Our ancestors blazed the trail we are still marching on, and through their sacrifices, tenacity, and collective organizing, they won for us the ultimate power: the right to vote, and the right to choose who represents our communities.

The Collective launched Vote to Live — our campaign to register and turn out at least 250,000 Black voters for the 2020 General Election — to mobilize voters and win for our communities this November. This Independence Day, join us in getting ready to Vote to Live — check your voter registration now!

We all know what's at stake this year at the ballot box. And you know we’re not exaggerating when we say our very lives depend on our voting power.

Progress doesn't happen overnight. But it does happen when we vote for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community.

If we're going to Vote to Live, friend, to impart change in our communities and build Black political power, we need to start with ourselves. So make sure you double-check your registration, and while you're with family, have them check, too!

Have a safe holiday weekend,

The Collective Team