Friend,

This Women’s History Month, it’s more urgent than ever to fight for better representation in politics.

Following this week’s mass shooting targeting Asian women, Representative Marilyn Strickland spoke out: “As a woman who is Black and Korean, I’m acutely aware of how it feels to be erased or ignored, and how the default position when violence is committed against people of color or women is to defer from confronting the hate that is often the motivation.”

Those of us with multiple marginalized identities belong in public office. Our experiences help us better serve our constituents, many of whom have been ignored or disregarded by our government and law enforcement for too long. And because we often more fully understand the needs of everyday people, we bring a sense of urgency for justice. We know there’s no time to wait for the change we need.

That’s why for years I’ve encouraged not only more progressive women to run for office, but also more women of color and more working class women of color.

As the first Muslim woman ever elected to the Michigan Legislature, I knew I had to keep the door wide open behind me for more women of color in office. I helped elect the first Latina to the Detroit City Council and the first Asian American woman to our state house.

And this Women’s History Month, I’m helping train people of color (80% of whom are women) in my district who are planning to run for local and state office. Many applied for our 2021 Campaign School program because they want to better serve the communities that raised them.

Can you pitch in to fully fund our 2021 Campaign School for local women of color running for office? Your support helps us provide expert training, free-of-charge, for participants.

The underrepresentation of women in politics—particularly women of color—doesn’t just affect policy and constituent services. It also shapes how society views women as leaders.

And even though our numbers are growing, many women are subject to physical, economic, sexual, and psychological violence simply for choosing to participate in politics.

I’ve experienced this hate and harassment firsthand for years, so last year I joined with other Congresswomen to introduce a new U.S. House resolution, which calls on the U.S. government to adopt policies that promote women’s political participation and to mitigate violence against women in politics.

We know the GOP won’t be of much help; in fact, they’re often the ones targeting us women of color in office. Although the House just passed the much-needed Violence Against Women Act, 172 Republicans voted against it. And now the fight is on in the Senate.

We’ve got to elect more progressive women—especially women of color and working class women—to office. Progressive women of color understand that the status quo is unacceptable, and instead of blocking progress, we’re often at the forefront.

But for many of us, running for office is beyond our financial reach. So our team created our Rooted in Community Leadership PAC to directly support people running for office at all levels. And I’m so proud we launched our inaugural Campaign School this month.

Can you chip in to help fund our work, so together we can build an inclusive, multiracial democracy where everyone can thrive?

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Thank you for all you do,

Rashida