John -- I wanted to make sure you had the opportunity to read this powerful message from two 14-year-old high school students and BNC volunteers. 
 
We are honored to have young Black girls like Georgina Oyugi and Betty Obungu fighting alongside our movement.
 
Please take a moment of your day to read their call to Congress: https://brandnewcongress.org/will-i-be-next
 
In this together,
 
Adrienne Bell
Executive Director
 
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Brand New Congress <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Feb 6, 2022 at 6:49 PM
Subject: "Will I be next?"

John -- Two volunteers for Brand New Congress have written a powerful essay sharing their hopes, and their fears, as young Black girls in America.

As part of our commitment to uplift Black voices and center their experiences, we felt it was important to share this message with you.

Here’s a small excerpt:

“Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise, were just teenagers when they were coerced into giving a false confession in 1989 despite the DNA evidence proving them innocent.

The presumption of aggression and dangerousness of Black boys in the justice system is extremely harmful, and we need concrete legislation to eliminate this bias.

One glance, and immediately we are burdened with the presumption of guilt and aggression, but what have we ever done but be human?”

Read their entire essay on our website:

Georgina and Betty represent the very best of us. Their vision, their clarity, and their demands for justice deserve to be heard by the entire world. It is their future we are fighting for.

Brand New Congress works year-round to recruit, train, and support powerful, progressive leaders – particularly Black, Latino, and other people of color – who are running for Congress.

We need their voices, their experiences, and their leadership driving the policy decisions that impact the lives of young people like Georgina and Betty.

Last month BNC helped elect Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the first Haitian American to represent Florida in Congress – a state with half a million Haitian immigrants.

BNC’s early support of Sheila helped her win her primary by just FIVE votes. Now she’s serving in Congress.

You can help us elect more bold, progressive leaders starting with Jessica Cisneros and Jessica Mason. Pitch in any amount today to help us turn out the vote in Texas.

We do encourage you to read the entire essay written by Georgina and Betty. Even at 14 years old, their wisdom speaks to us, and their passion for changing the world demands that we keep fighting.

Thank you to Georgina and Betty for sharing your voice with us.

In solidarity,

Brand New Congress