Dear John,

We were pleased to see Congress passed legislation this week establishing June 19th as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Celebrations this year are made more special by becoming a holiday we share as a nation. They help us remember that systems of oppression can and will be dismantled, even when it seems like progress is taking too long. And it is a reminder of the strength, persistence, resilience and leadership of the Black community in Minnesota and in our country.

As we celebrate Juneteenth this year, we recognize that we are in much the same situation as a year ago. We see cries for action on police reform, voting rights, healthcare disparities and a whole host of issues go unanswered, and we have a long way to go before everyone is assured equitable treatment in this country.

This Juneteenth, we at FairVote Minnesota are committed to reforming our electoral system to make it more responsive, representative and inclusive for all Minnesotans and to continue the work of improving our democracy so that it truly represents ALL the people in “We the People,” including most importantly Black Americans and descendants of the formerly enslaved.

We believe Ranked Choice Voting will not only open our election system to more Black candidates and give more power to Black voters, but that it will help break through the gridlock that is holding back change on so many policy areas needed to address racial injustice and inequities.

We greatly appreciate the Black leaders in Minnesota who are leading on RCV and see it as a key to making our election system more responsive, representative and inclusive. Please take time this Juneteenth to view highlights from our event, Black Leaders at the Forefront of Democracy Reform showcasing the power of this reform for the Black community.

We have much work to do and a long way to go, but more and more Americans recognize the urgent need to address racial inequality, and we at FairVote MN will continue to be a partner in that work to help bend the moral arc of our country towards justice.

Happy Juneteenth,

Your FairVote Minnesota Team