Friend,
On this day, as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have to acknowledge the deep divisions that exist in our country.
If we are to forge ahead to better days, we must uplift the values that Dr. King so powerfully articulated and defended. Chief among them: love. We must love our neighbors and our nation. And through the power of love, we must champion racial justice and equality.
With so much pain and suffering, so much hate and division, there are times when the road ahead might feel too difficult to travel. But with the infinite power of love and its capacity to inspire, never forget that there is always hope -- always the promise of a better day. And with that hope, we must continue to push forward, no matter the struggle.
As Dr. King said, “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Together, we can do what is right and defend our democratic values. Together, we can decide to move forward.
We can make this country safer, fairer, and freer. We can expand access to a quality education so that every child can achieve their full potential. We can ensure that affordable health care is received universally and not just by a few. We can provide meaningful relief for families and communities struggling -- not just during the COVID-19 pandemic -- but also beyond, as we look to address persistent wage stagnation and economic inequality.
We can protect what is best about America: that it is a place where a little black boy from a working-class family can grow up to become a member of Congress -- in a district nearly 90% white, no less.
I believe that there is so much that is already great about our country, and I believe that for those of us who love this nation, it is our duty to work to make it better where we can.
Friend, I love America with all my heart. I love that we are a nation committed to government by the people and for the people. I love that America was founded on principles -- not language or ethnicity or geography. I love our diversity. I love that we are the world’s greatest experiment in democracy.
While my heart hurts for our country as we endure these dark days, it remains full of love, and with that love comes infinite resolve. I will dedicate my life to moving forward and perfecting our union so that future generations can share my great pride in and love for our country and its promise to ourselves and the world.
In the spirit of Dr. King, I hope you, too, will do what you can to move America forward in compassion, equality, and love.
With love,
Antonio
