I want to wish you a happy Fourth of July, John.

This year, Independence Day falls during a challenging time -- as we’re confronted by twin crises of COVID-19 and police brutality. Not to mention a president who continues to abuse the power of his office and any sense of common decency at all.

Today is a reminder that we need to make America a country that works for all of us -- no matter one’s race, sex, class, sexuality, gender identity, or ability. That’s an America I think we can all appreciate and want to live in.

Before we’re able to do that, it’s going to take a whole lot of reflection, reckoning, conversation, and hard work. I’m committed to that process, and plan to take today to think about where we’ve come from and just how far we need to go.

I’m also taking inspiration from the demonstrators across the country -- true patriots who seek to hold us and our leaders accountable, like our forebearers sought to do in Boston Harbor in 1773 and again in Philadelphia in 1776, 244 years ago today.

I hope you have the opportunity to reflect, too, John. And I think we can all use a break to spend time with friends and family (at a safe distance of course).

In solidarity,

Phil Gardner