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John, As president, I was often inspired by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." The line is well-known for a reason: it’s a north star for all of us who are committed to the pursuit of progress. But people sometimes forget the first part: "The arc of the moral universe is long" — so long that sometimes you can’t see it bend. Sometimes it zigs. Sometimes it zags. There are periods of progress followed by times of reversal. But while victories don’t come easily, it’s also true that setbacks aren’t final – so long as we don’t let the forces of injustice have the last word. And of course, the arc doesn’t bend on its own. As my friend and our former Attorney General Eric Holder likes to say, “It only bends when people like us put our hands on it and pull it toward justice.” I tried to bend the arc as president, but the job didn’t end when I left the Oval Office. Each of us has a critical role to play as citizens to bend it, too – including you, John. That’s why Eric and I launched the National Democratic Redistricting PAC in the first place. And with your support, it’s leading the fight against gerrymandering so voters can choose their representatives instead of the other way around.
After years of serving as the strategic hub against gerrymandering, the NDR PAC has helped make sure the latest congressional maps are the fairest in decades. But it’s not guaranteed to stay that way. Right now, too many people in power are actively trying to make our democracy less fair — to roll back fair maps and limit voting rights. Just this month, Republicans announced a sudden, mid-decade plan to redraw Texas’ already-gerrymandered congressional map — a transparent power grab they publicly say could win them up to five seats in the midterms. That’s why the NDR PAC is keeping up the fight. They’re helping elect fair maps champions in the races that have the biggest effect on the state-by-state redistricting process — and key elections are happening this year. They’re holding the line against new attempts to consolidate unearned power by manipulating district lines. And they’re keeping this issue that touches every other element of our fight for a stronger democracy front and center. In other words, this team is playing the long game. Because that’s what it takes to bend the arc of history. Every time you speak out against rising threats to democracy, you’re doing your part. And every time you make a grassroots donation, you join forces with friends, neighbors, and fellow supporters across the country who are helping build a more just future. Thank you, Barack Obama
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