Content warning: This email discusses police brutality and murder.

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John,

Last week, I was arrested along with other activists protesting the early release of Jason Van Dyke, the white police officer who shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Van Dyke shot a 17-year-old Black child 16 times, then reloaded his gun. He was released from prison early last week after serving less than half of his 81 month sentence. Think about that. Just three years for the vicious murder of a child.

And for protesting this injustice, I was fined $200 and banned from the federal courthouse in Chicago for 60 days.

The fact that I faced federal charges for protesting before Van Dyke faced federal charges for the brutal murder of a Black child tells you everything you need to know about our justice system. It wasn’t created for people who look like me, or people who look like Laquan McDonald.

One of the U.S. Marshals who arrested us on Thursday asked me why we were protesting the release of Van Dyke and not the gun violence in Chicago, so I want to be abundantly clear: This is gun violence in Chicago. As much as Laquan was a victim of police brutality, he was also a victim of gun violence. His life was ended the same way too many lives end in Chicago — with bullets.

I was the Executive Director of the largest gun violence prevention organization in Illinois. This is a cause I’ve dedicated my life to. And it’s a fight I will bring to D.C. and the halls of Congress.

Can you help amplify my calls for justice and help me take our fight to Congress? Split a contribution to my campaign and Justice Democrats today so I can advocate for gun violence prevention and police accountability legislation in Congress.

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Our protest at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago last week was to make clear that Laquan McDonald’s life was sacred. We didn’t just protest Van Dyke, his sham sentence, and the injustice of his early release. We showed up, spoke out, and engaged in civil disobedience to amplify Laquan’s story.

Our hope is that one day, this type of excessive use of force by police — and this type of gun violence — will no longer be the reality for Black Americans. Because that is what justice truly looks like.

Thank you for being a part of our fight for accountability and justice, and my campaign for Congress.

In solidarity,

Kina Collins

Do not worry if you cannot afford to make a contribution — we understand that this is a difficult time. If you’re struggling, you can find a food bank here. We appreciate everything you do to keep our movement strong. Please stay informed and follow the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and your state public health department.