I will never forget the summer of 1962.

I was just 11 years old. My friends and I would try to escape the summer heat of South Baltimore’s concrete and asphalt streets by cooling off in a little two-foot deep wading pool. We’d have to stand in line for our turn because the pool was so small.

At one point, we found out about the Riverside pool -- an Olympic-sized pool a few blocks away, but for white kids only. We walked there and we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was huge. We decided to march down the block to the Riverside pool for several days afterward, trying to get access.

We were only kids -- yet we were spat on, threatened and called everything but children of God. I still have a scar on my face from when a milk bottle was thrown at me.

So when I heard the president tell four United States Congresswomen of color to “go back” to where they came from, it sent me back to those days at the pool. But now, the milk bottles are coming from the president of the United States.

That is why I hope I can count on you to stand beside me and sign your name to denounce President Trump’s racist statements. If you would like, you can also submit your story and why you think standing up to racism is so important.

Generations yet unborn will want to know what we did to stand up to President Trump. We must be able to tell them that we fought against racism and defended the soul of our democracy.

Thank you,

Elijah