Friend,

I wanted to check in with you after the holiday weekend, because, if you’re like me, Independence Day felt different this year.

It felt off to put on a smile when the juxtaposition of what’s going on in our country was so clear: Distancing myself from my friends and family on a holiday meant to bring us together; feeling the hot sun on my face while recognizing we’re facing an ongoing climate crisis; knowing our country has failed Breonna Taylor — and so many others — as we celebrate our country’s freedom. 

With all of this going on, I didn’t feel like celebrating. But then I remembered throughout our country’s history, freedom and opportunity for all is something we fought to secure. Through different moments in our country’s history — fights to end segregation, ensure voting rights, and protect Black lives to name a few — we’ve met injustice with protest. And the work to make sure our country lives up to our ideals is not done.

Protest is patriotic and voting is the best way to ensure our demands for a better future are met. Pledge to vote for Joe Biden this November and together we can change the course of our country to be something we want to celebrate.

So, half of the fight is making sure we unseat Trump. But why is Biden the right candidate to entrust our future in?

Biden’s plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 includes making testing widely available and free, providing guaranteed paid sick and caregiving leave, and ensuring economic relief to those whose employment status or hours have been affected by the pandemic.

Climate change? Biden plans to end tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry and has compiled a panel of experts — including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — to inform his climate policy.

Bringing real justice to our criminal justice system? Biden will invest $20 billion to support system reform at the state and local levels and expand the Department of Justice’s power to address systemic misconduct in police departments. 

Wanting better for our country and fighting tooth and nail for it is patriotic. And that starts with doing everything in our power to make sure Joe Biden wins in November.
 

Best, 

Ben Wessel
Executive Director
NextGen America