Hi friends,

I wanted to take a moment ahead of the holiday weekend to wish you and your loved ones a happy 4th of July! I hope that wherever you are, you’re celebrating safely and happily.

I also hope that you’ll take a moment and join me in appreciating how wonderful it is that we’re able to once again celebrate like this in-person, and in the company of friends and family. As we approach an 85% vaccination rate here in Vermont, I’m proud of how we all stayed united with respect for our communities and for each other throughout this pandemic.

This weekend as we celebrate our country’s independence, we must also acknowledge that we have a great deal of work ahead of us to ensure freedom, equality, and justice are guaranteed to all people, not just a select few. Yesterday we saw that we can’t count on the Supreme Court to protect our right to vote. State legislatures across the country continue to erode American democracy and our access to the ballot.

This Independence Day, we must recommit ourselves to our shared values and continue standing together, working toward a brighter future for all. I'm confident that Vermonters and people in our movement across the nation are ready to do exactly that. I hope you are too.

If you happen to be in Vermont, I want you to know that tomorrow I’ll be in Brandon for their Independence Day parade, starting on Park Street at 9:30am. My team and I would love to see you out there if you have the chance!

Happy 4th of July from myself, Margaret, and everyone here at Team Welch!

All my best,

Peter