Today is a new day. As President Joe Biden declared in his inaugural speech, “This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope of renewal…” Together, we witnessed history as Kamala Harris was sworn into office as the nation’s first Black and South Asian woman Vice President and as Joe Biden took over the mantle of the presidency with the clear intent to restore dignity and truth to our country’s highest office and deliver on substantive plans to address the multiple crises we face.

These past tumultuous four years, the fragility of our democracy and institutions – and the persistence of the racism that runs through them – have been laid bare. In witnessing their absence, we have seen firsthand the weight that words of truth wield and the necessity of moral leadership in maintaining peace and protecting our institutions and people.

But even more than the power of words, we have witnessed and taken part in the power of the people. Our power. Let’s take this moment to celebrate it. For every one of you who marched, protested, resisted, made phone calls, texted, donated and spoke truth for women’s rights, racial justice, and change: today is your win, too.

Today we turn the page on history and move toward taking racial justice and women’s equality seriously; abiding science and addressing climate change; realizing coordinated plans to end the pandemic; and recommitting to lifting up the lives of all people. We have a lot to do, but let today serve to bolster our resilience and perseverance.

In the resonant words of Poet Amanda Gorman

“The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”