Sunday morning reflections (thread): This year, we have lost so much. We’ve seen devastation from fires and hurricanes. We’ve watched a virus ravage our nation and the world. We’ve lost connecting with family and friends. (1/4)
And we’ve lost so so so many lives. Including icons whose life’s work have helped make this country what it is today. From the trailblazing Katherine Johnson, to Rev CT Vivian, John Lewis, and now Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (2/4)
While we mourn, I also hope that we are reminded that our pursuit of justice does not rely on individual heroes, but rather a collective of all of us. Our own heroes, in our own ways, doing our part to fight for a more just and equitable America. (3/4)
#VoteNoOn1 Why? It has fatal flaws. 1st: 4 individuals have concentrated power - the leaders from each political party in the House & Senate. This gang of 4 have their hands on every single one of the 16 commissioners - whether they’re a legislator or citizen commissioner. 1/5
The gang of 4 choose the legislators who will represent their parties on the commission, and they also choose which citizens to bring forward to the panel of judges that will select the citizen commissioners. 2/5
And 4 of the 5 judges are picked by that same gang of 4. A representative democracy shouldn’t have to depend on your access or relationship with the powerful elite. 3/5
Today, I'm celebrating new laws going into effect in #Virginia. So many people worked hard for YEARS - organizing, educating, advocating, messaging and winning elections for these changes. There are too many to list but here are a *few* of my favorite things (a thread):
✅ Expanded access to voting - no excuse absentee so anyone can vote by mail if they want to, 45-day in-person voting, repealing strict photo ID, AVR and same-day voter registration, making Election Day a state holiday and many more... #VotingRights
✅ Made Virginia a better place for immigrants - allowing everyone to lawfully drive regardless of status, in-state tuition, Office of New Americans, prohibiting law enforcement from asking immigration status of witnesses and victims of crime... #heretostay
.@joelindseyva90, chair of House Privileges and Elections, talking about voting rights priorities, including no excuse absentee voting, Election Day holiday, automatic voter registration, nonpartisan redistricting reform...
.@C_Herring, House majority leader and chair of House Courts committee, talking about criminal justice reform priorities - reforming pretrial services, cash bail, discovery, expungement, increasing felony larceny threshold, reforming marijuana laws...and more!