Dear John,

This extraordinarily challenging year has revealed, in often painful ways, the tremendous inequities faced by black and brown people in Minnesota and across the country. From the disparate effects highlighted by Covid-19 to treatment of black citizens by police and the murder of George Floyd, to the efforts to undermine the votes of black and brown voters, it is clear we need to take a deep dive and understand the structural problems in our current system and explore reforms in our political institutions that can bring about a more racially just democracy. Ranked Choice Voting can play a key role in breaking through the racial inequalities in our election system.

Please join us for this timely and necessary conversation, Black Leaders at
the Forefront of Democracy Reform: Breaking Down Structural Inequities and Creating a Racially Just Democracy on Tuesday, March 23, 12-1pm CT.

University of Minnesota Professor and FairVote MN Board Member Dr. Michael Minta, one of the country’s leading experts in the study of the political representation of African American interests in the United States, will moderate an all-star panel of Attorney and human rights activist Zaylore Stout, Community Change Organizer Mike Griffin, and some of the leading reform advocates at the state legislature, including Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Rep. Esther Agbaje, Rep. Hodan Hassan, Rep. Athena Hollins, and Rep. Mohamud Noor. This expert panel will explore ways we can reform our democracy so that all citizens are empowered and fully represented and discuss how Ranked Choice Voting, among other reforms, can meet the challenges of systemic racism.

Please join this important event to highlight the structural reforms we need to achieve a racially just and inclusive democracy.
 

Sincerely,

Jeanne Massey