Dear John, 

2020 has been an unpredictable year. But in all the chaos, one thing has remained constant: young people showed up. We showed up to protest injustice, we showed up to vote for candidates that represent our ideals, and we showed up to make a difference in our local communities.

2020 has been the year of the protest. Following repeated publicized instances of injustice against Black Americans, like the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Geroge Floyd, thousands of people turned out to support the Black Lives Matter Movement in protesting racism in America.

Young people of color organized these protests. Thanks to youth organizers of color, we saw incredibly high participation in these protests. More than that, these youth organizers created a momentum in this movement that will continue to push for racial justice in America.

We didn’t just turn out to protest. We turned out to vote too. Young people’s voter turnout surged by 8% compared to the 2016 election. Preliminary numbers from CIRCLE show 53% of young people turned out to make their voices heard in the 2020 election. Youth voters of color had an especially important role in electing progressive candidates and passing progressive laws.

We acted for racial justice, protecting our planet, and a responsible handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Young voters also elected landmark young candidates, like Sarah McBride, who, at thirty years old, became the first transgender person to serve as a state senator.

Every action young people took, including showing up to protest or vote, is great for young people, but it’s also great for our communities. Our engagement is helping to create safer, more sustainable, and equitable communities for us all to live in.

So, thank you for every action you took this year to create a stronger, more progressive future for all of us. Young people showed up, and we’re going to continue to do the work that makes a difference in our communities and the world!
 

Thank you,  

The Generation Progress Team