In 1852, Frederick Douglass asked, “what to the slave is the 4th of July?" This year we call on you to ask a similar question--what to the immigrant, to Muslims, and to Black people is the 4th of July? Sadly, with the current state of the country, we are reminded of the answer to this question every day when we see Muslims being banned from entering the country, Black people being mercilessly killed by the police, our people being deported, and families being separated due to the racist criminal justice system and immigration laws. After yesterday's “Independence Day,” we are reminded of all the ways we are not yet free.
Despite this, our commitment to freedom guides our work at Color Of Change every day. And it’s why we have been building a movement to end the practice of cash bail across the country and free Black people from jail who are only there because they can’t afford the cost of freedom. We are working to literally set Black people free from cages--but it’s only possible because of the support of people like you.