Friends,
Over my lifetime, the course of human events here in the US has always found its way forward. While far from perfect, our union has been characterized by its restless and unrelenting progress toward that vision. Why? Because ordinary American citizens, often at great risk to their safety, have never failed to answer when called to protect and revitalize our democracy. Throughout our history and in more recent times, we’ve acted to end immoral and devastating wars, expand civil rights, restore justice to the wronged, and strengthen the institutions upon which our freedom depends.
Once again, such a call has come. Together with millions across our great country and beyond, I feel compelled to respond.
I’ve realized that I cannot take our hard-won rights—the rights guaranteed in our Constitution and the freedoms established in the First Amendment—for granted. I’ve acknowledged what I owe all those who have battled before me to expand and guarantee those rights. So, with thousands of my fellow American and global citizen sisters and brothers, and with my incredible daughter, I will be marching in DC on Saturday. Millions more will be taking to the streets in cities and towns across the U.S., including many of our Skoll colleagues, friends, and partners.
I will march for rights that may be inalienable and self-evident, but which I hold to be unspeakably precious. I will march for my daughter and granddaughter; for the dignity of all girls and women and for the expansion of their opportunities; for the protection and appreciation of minorities’ and immigrants’ rights; for clean energy; for public education; for the rule of law; for healthcare; and for justice…for all! I will march as well for the rights of our fellow citizens across the world, and for the US to uphold their rights.
I will march for the vision toward which the Skoll Foundation works: a sustainable world of peace and shared prosperity. And I will be proud to march arm in arm with women and men of conscience, compassion, and conviction from every state in our country, and from countries everywhere.
Many of you will participate in marches closer to home. Our extraordinary colleague Gabriel Diamond will join me in DC, video-camera in hand, to document this historic moment.
We cannot falter. We must not fail!
In solidarity, and with deep appreciation,
Sally
January 19, 2017
