John, if you received any email from me this past week you know that today is going to be the last day of the quarter and a critical fundraising deadline. I also know that I haven’t been the only one emailing you and asking you to donate right now, just weeks from the November election.

But this morning I want to pause from that, at least for a moment, because I am on my way to see the investiture of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — the formal ceremony recognizing her historic elevation to the highest court in our land. Inside the Supreme Court we will celebrate this extraordinary woman as the court starts another term. Over the past 250 years there have been 115 Supreme Court Justices, but today is the first ever Supreme Court investiture ceremony for a Black Woman. It is a day of profound joy for me and so many others.

I know it’s hard to be joyful in this moment, especially given the conservative Supreme Court majority’s recent devastating rulings on the environment, on guns, and rolling back abortion rights.

But today is a day to lift up Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — history is being made, another barrier is falling, and we are taking one more step forward on the long road towards justice. America is just a little bit better today.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has earned this. She is worthy. She is a great American. She is so much more than just her race and gender — a parent, a daughter, a sister, a public defender, a judge.

I’m again reminded of one of my heroes, Harriet Tubman. She faced insurmountable odds. She was beaten. She faced starvation. She was chased by dogs. Yet no matter what they did to her, she kept looking up to a sky full of stars and one star that led to freedom — her harbinger of hope. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is my star today.

With love,
Cory