Happy Fourth of July friends,

I hope you’re celebrating the holiday with friends and loved ones, and of course, fireworks and BBQ.

This morning, I find myself reflecting on the Declaration of Independence — the promise that all of us are free and equal in the eyes of the law, that we are all bound by a common truth, is woven into the very fabric of our nation. It’s at the heart of who we are.

Generations have marched, bled, and died in pursuit of that promise and in search of a more perfect union, where all people — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or economic status — are free and equal; where justice is blind and every voice and every vote counts; where every worker is given a fair pay and treated with dignity and respect; where every community is safe and our kids have access to the education and opportunities they need to achieve the American dream.

But this year, Independence Day comes as all of that is at risk.

Look no further than last month’s Supreme Court rulings, including their appalling decision to strip away a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion — to take away her right to control her own body, and to make personal and private decisions effecting her health and well-being.

Make no mistake: the same dark forces that are undermining our freedoms and shredding the very fabric of our nation on the Court and across our country are now trying to take power here in New York.

It’s dark and it’s dangerous. And now we find ourselves in the fight of our lives.

But here’s the good news:

New York has always led the country in moments like these. From establishing a woman’s right to choose, to ensuring women have the right to vote, to the founding of the NAACP, to recognizing gay marriage, to being out front with the environmental movement and the labor movement — to being the epicenter of multiculturalism.

We’ve always been an engine of progress and a beacon of hope. We are the light in dark and troubling times, and I truly believe that for much of what ails our country today, the antidote is right here in New York.

So today, we celebrate, and tomorrow, we take on this fight together. It will take a lot of work and it will take a lot of love: love of democracy, love of country, love of neighbor, love of New York.

Happy Independence Day,

Antonio



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