Do you remember the day after the 2016 elections? I sure do.

I've spent my career encouraging people to get involved in the political process — to register to vote, to cast their ballots, to make their voices heard. And all I could think about on the day after the election was, Did I do enough? What if I had registered just one more voter? Would things be different if I had knocked on a few more doors?

Maybe you wondered the same thing. Maybe you felt angry, scared, shattered, or a mix of all three.

Whatever you felt that day, I want you to hold onto it. And I want you to join me.

You know that our work to elect pro-reproductive health champions in 2020 has already started. Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations are already talking to voters about the importance of the 2020 election… and are planning their biggest electoral programs EVER. We can't afford another day like November 9, 2016. We can't afford another three years like the ones we've been living in.

If you're with me, make a gift to Planned Parenthood Action Fund right now. A generous donor will match every dollar you give with two of their own, tripling your impact in this crucial moment. But this double match offer expires tomorrow at midnight, so please hurry.

— Alexis

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Subject: Remember these four words

Dear Alexis,

Let's get all these words out of the way: Devastated. Angry. Heartbroken. Outraged. Shocked. Sad. Disgusted. Ashamed. Discouraged. Exhausted. Shattered.

And now four more words — the most important ones:

THESE. DOORS. STAY. OPEN.

Alexis, I know that you and I can't possibly have enough words to describe our feelings about what happened in this election and what lies ahead.

If you want to stay in bed or hide from the world, I can't blame you. But I hope you won't. Instead, I hope you'll join me in focusing on those important four words: These. Doors. Stay. Open.

It's up to us to keep fighting to protect Planned Parenthood health centers, so they can continue to serve the people who rely on them — people who come from communities that need our continued support in this new reality — immigrants, people of color, the LGBTQ community, people of faith, and more. It's up to us to stand strong. It's up to us to make sure that Planned Parenthood health centers will be there wherever and whenever they are needed, no matter what.

Their doors will stay open because our voices get louder. Our determination grows stronger. And our commitment to protecting the rights and health care of millions of people is unwavering.

We will continue to stand and fight. And we're not alone. Most people believe in access to health care, reproductive services, and abortion. We have seen what our opposition is capable of and the consequences are inconceivable. You, me, and the rest of the Planned Parenthood family must — will — stop them. That's what we do.

Whatever you're feeling today, know that there are millions of us who feel the same way — and we aren't going anywhere. I'm holding on tight to that truth this morning as I think about what comes next. It is so good to know we can count on each other, especially now.