John,

Like many of you, yesterday I breathed a sigh of relief — even if only for a moment.

The decision in the Derek Chauvin case represented months of organizing and action by citizens across this country who were determined to hold our criminal justice system accountable to Black lives.

But the fight continues.

The verdict once again showed us that who holds elected office matters. It would not have happened if not for the work of Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, and his tireless pursuit of accountability.

Over the next 15 years, one of our goals is to train more women to run for law enforcement seats — from Sheriff to Attorney General — and fundamentally change our criminal justice system. That includes women like Georgia State Senator Jen Jordan who is currently running for Attorney General and will be a force for good in communities across the state.

To learn more about how we're reshaping the criminal justice system, follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

We remain committed to recruiting and training more Democratic women leaders who will center the concerns of Black communities in their policymaking and have the compassion and conviction to act when our systems fall short.

Right now Tish James of New York is the only woman of color serving her state as Attorney General across the country, and we’re ready to change that.

Black lives are to be uplifted, valued, and protected. We must hold our elected leaders, our institutions, and each other accountable in the fight to end white supremacy. Only then can we build a more equitable future for our country.

Thank you for being a part of our community,

A'shanti F. Gholar President, Emerge