I believe we have the right to speak up about the things we’re most passionate about. I believe we also have the responsibility to find organizations that are doing good work and support those organizations when we speak up about issues. Voicing concerns thoughtfully and protesting peacefully are both patriotic actions; so is supporting organizations that are in the weeds solving problems.
This Memorial Day, I will be donating to two organizations. The first is Everytown, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence.
The second is Heart & Armor, an organization devoted to veteran health and linking the experience of veterans to civilians.
Today, I’ll be standing for the anthem. While I believe strongly in the right to protest and the importance of doing so, I also believe strongly in honoring and mourning our country’s service men and women who fought and died for that right. Those who serve in our military, and especially those who have paid the ultimate price for our rights and freedoms, deserve that acknowledgment and respect, and I am honored to stand on the line today to show mine.