John,

It's been a year since my colleagues, my staff, journalists, and myself were forced to shelter in place as the United States Capitol building was broken into, vandalized, and desecrated.

The violent mob that attacked was incited by lies – lies told by Donald Trump and other right-wing politicians who sought to overturn a legitimate election and betray the very will of the American people.

One year later, it's clear that the lies which fueled the insurrection have persisted and even grown. And they've manifested in anti-democratic efforts in numerous states to restrict voting rights.

If we are to truly heal our country from the damage caused by the attack on our Capitol, we must take decisive action to protect the right to vote. We cannot relent in combating the white supremacy and bigotry that's behind so many of the efforts to subvert our democracy. And we must remember that without accountability, there can be no reconciliation.

One year after our democracy was tested to its limit, it still survives. But we cannot take it for granted. And I'll never stop fighting to defend it.

-Marie