John,
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and I wanted to take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King — and share with you what Dr. King leadership has meant to me over the years.
I’ve often referred to Dr. King as one of the Founding Fathers of America. His legacy left our country with the blueprint to make structural and social change to benefit all of us — and as an educator in Congress, I continue to turn to his teachings as we continue to work towards achieving his dream.
History cannot continue to repeat itself, John. Right now, our country is at the precipice of a transformative moment. We have the numbers, we have the leadership, and we have a vision of a more progressive and just future for all of us.
But much like the past, our progress as a nation continues to be halted by leaders whose priorities actively go against those of the people. Their obstructions only continue to upkeep a racist and unjust status quo that disproportionately impacts Black, brown, and poor folks.
Both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are key pieces of legislation that could finally shatter our barrier to passing transformative policies that help progress our communities. But when leaders fight against our right to vote, we risk losing the voices of countless citizens and potential voters — especially Black, brown, and poor folks who are often most disenfranchised.
Today, and every day, we must reaffirm our commitment to rebuilding our communities from decades of injustice, brutality, and stagnant leadership.
We must invest in policies that are key in improving the lives of working people. We must continue to invest in jobs and education, not jail and incarceration. And we must continue to pave the way for grassroots movements — by the working class, and by those who’ve been silenced for far too long.
Together, we can continue to honor the legacy of Dr. King, today, and every day, and build a country rooted in love and humanity, while we strive for a multiracial democracy.
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
