John,
It's been four years since the infamous and deadly "Unite the Right Rally" in Charlottesville, Virginia. Hundreds of white supremacists took to the streets wielding weapons and torches. They filled the night with racist and hateful rhetoric, and their faces are forever burned into my memory.
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but it doesn't protect the right to terrorize. Terror was the clear intention of the white supremacists in Charlottesville.
Hundreds of counter-protestors traveled to Charlottesville to fight for justice and equality for all Americans. One of those brave activists was Heather Heyer, who was murdered by a white supremacist during the events.
In the four years since the heinous events in Charlottesville, my Republican colleagues have had numerous opportunities to denounce white supremacy. Instead, they continued to support Donald Trump's anti-American agenda. Their actions (or lack of) led to the Capitol insurrection.
No speech can heal our divided nation. No one piece of legislation will right the wrong of institutional racism. We must condemn and address white supremacy, racism, and bigotry every single day. And it should not be the sole responsibility of Black, brown, and Indigenous Americans to address these issues.
Justice in policing. Economic equality. Equal pay. Respect and dignity for all Americans no matter their identity, the color of their skin, or the neighborhood they live in. These are the ideals ALL leaders in Washington should be uniting behind.
I am fighting for a country where every single American can thrive, from the streets of Philadelphia to the halls of Congress. If you're with me, sign your name next to mine on today's anniversary.
Thank you,
Dwight
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