This is a call to action — it is incumbent upon all of us to fight against the deep-seated prejudice, discrimination, and structural racism that has long plagued our country.

Daunte Wright should be alive today. No well meaning thoughts, hopeful prayers or profound tweets will bring him back. But in the face of this unspeakable tragedy, we can and must honor his memory by standing up, speaking out, and taking action.

For a lot of us — it starts at home and in our communities. Now is the time for positive change through collective action, and we will be undeterred by the efforts of those who will try to distract and divide us.

We can and will continue to have tough conversations at the kitchen table, support Black artists and creatives, and financially contribute to groups doing necessary work on the ground like Black Lives Matter, NAACP, and Color of Change, to name just a few.

George Floyd’s girlfriend once taught Daunte Wright in school — the tangled web of pain caused by the systemic failures of our justice system is inexcusable. Until traffic stops are no longer execution sites for Black and Brown people in America, we have fallen woefully short of our highest collective calling — to ensure “liberty and justice for all.”

The California Democratic Party is committed to ending the racism and violence perpetrated against Black people each and every day, creating culture change, tackling systemic racism, and lifting the voices of underserved communities across California through CADEM’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion program.

As long as they cannot breathe, we cannot and will not rest.

In solidarity,

California Democratic Party