Hi John,
First, I want to tell you about how I made the decision to run for Congress.
I never thought I'd get involved in politics. As a child, I watched my dad work long, thankless hours as a public servant and asked myself why anyone would ever volunteer for that. But that taught me at a young age that it is our duty to help people, so I ultimately chose to serve my community as a pastor and nurse.
When Michael Brown was murdered by police just six minutes from where I lived in 2014, I didn't take to the streets for a title or a name. I was sent by my employer to serve as a triage nurse and to assist with grief and trauma work. But, I showed up to protest the day after Michael Brown was killed, and I came back every day for the next 400 days.
Day after day, I watched the police beat people unconscious, arrest people for stepping off a sidewalk, and use tear gas and rubber bullets on innocent people. And I asked myself, where are the elected officials who are paid to represent us?
I thought I wanted nothing to do with politics. When my community asked me to run, I initially said no. But the more I thought about it, I realized everyone I had been protesting with, who had been putting their lives and livelihoods on the line deserved a representative who would continue the fight for justice. I realized that if my child became the next hashtag and I hadn’t done every last thing within my power to stop it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. So, I stepped up and ran. But I didn’t run alone. WE ran together.
Through the power of community, we defeated a 20-year incumbent to make me the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress.
John, from the streets of Ferguson to the halls of Congress, we've been fighting for justice and to save Black lives. I'm proud of the progress we've made in my first year in Congress, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us to pass the People's Response Act, the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and so much more.
Thank you for all of your support.
Your Congresswoman loves you,
Cori
