John,
Yesterday, I was at the Sunrise Movement's "The People Have Spoken" Rally in Washington, D.C. along with Representatives Ilhan Omar, Mondaire Jones, AOC, Senator Ed Markey, and many other activists and organizers. It was the first time I spoke at a rally in Washington since I became Congressman-elect.
For the last few weeks, I've been preparing to take office in January along with my fellow brothers, sisters, and members of Congress. I've been dreaming of the country that we are going to rebuild together that is representative of all of us — truly all of us.
That's why I felt compelled to speak at the rally yesterday. I spoke up about the environmental racism that's physically present in my district in the form of raw, leaking sewage into the Hudson and Long Island Sound. I spoke up about how President-elect Biden must prioritize 40% of his $2 trillion for climate investments to rebuild Black and brown communities across this country.
Yet Fox News decided to take my words and twist them, noting that I was telling President-elect Biden to "pay minority communities back after election support."
Now...I wouldn't quite put it in those exact words. (In fact, I didn't.) But what I will say is this: I'm ready to do everything I can to hold President-elect Biden accountable to making sure that Black and brown communities like mine can succeed.
I hope you'll continue to join me as we dream and work together to build a better world.
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
