Black Women’s Leadership Rising: Sisters Lead Sisters Vote Supports Cong. Barbara Lee

November 18, 2018

Dear House Democratic Caucus Leaders,

We, the undersigned, write to express our full support for Congresswoman Barbara Lee's (D-Calif) bid to become the Democratic Caucus Chair for the 116th Congress.

Representative Barbara Lee is the best choice for the Democratic Caucus Chair. Her inclusive and inspirational leadership style draws on a wide range of experiences that enables her to work with colleagues and serve constituents from diverse backgrounds.

In her July 2018 announcement to become the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, Lee outlined three guiding principles:
• The strength of our caucus lies in our diversity of experiences and ideas.

• Our caucus is at its best when everyone has an opportunity to contribute and collaborate.

• Our caucus has the talent and the vision to improve the lives of all people.
This is what Black Women’s leadership looks like – qualified, inclusive, focused and visionary.

As we celebrate the legacy and 50th Anniversary of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's breaking the racial and gender barrier by being elected the first Black congresswoman in 1968 and running for president in 1972, we believe now is the time to break a new glass ceiling to elect Congresswoman Lee the first Black woman to lead the Democratic Caucus.

Black women lead and vote. We are leading transformational campaigns across the country that have been key to the power shift that has taken place with Democrats winning in 2018 on a national, state and local level. We are the most reliable Democratic supporters. We frequently are called the “backbone of the Democratic Party.” Now more than ever our votes are essential for Democrats to win the majority in the Senate and House.

We urge and expect you to support Congresswoman Barbara Lee to replace Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and support other Black women in leadership.

Sincerely,

Sisters Lead Sisters Vote, Black Women Leaders, and our Allies

Melanie L. Campbell, Chair, VA
Felicia Davis, Vice Chair, GA
Dr. Avis Jones DeWeever, Secretary, VA
René Redwood, Treasurer, DC
Holli L. Holliday, President, MO
Pierrette Talley, OH
Salandra Benton, FL
Carol Joyner, DC
Roslyn Brock, MD
Clayola Brown, DC
Latosha Brown, GA
Stefanie Brown James, DC
Diane Babineaux, MD
Monifa Bandele, NY
Cora Barry, DC
Clayola Brown, DC
Tarana Burke, NY
Glenda Carr, NY
Letetia Daniels Jackson, AL
Leah D. Daughtry, NY
Tashonie Davis, GA
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley
Tanesha Dixon, VA
Hazel Dukes, NY
Marcia L. Dyson, DC
Leslie Fields, DC
Lawanda Folami, GA
Shirley Franklin, GA
A’shanti F. Gholar, DC
Delsa Guerrero, GA
Dr. Cynthia Hewitt, GA
Kristal High Taylor, NC
Dr. Gayle Holliday, MO
Donna Hope, NY
Gerald Hudson, DC
Quentin James, DC
Yvonne Shade Jones, GA
Illai Kenney, DC
Tamika Mallory, NY
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, PhD, DC
Janice L. Mathis, VA
Vernice Miller-Travis, MD
Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, PA
Minyon Moore, DC
Linda Paris, DC
Barbara A. Perkins, CA
Kimberly Peeler-Allen, NY
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, MD
Makani Themba, MS
L. Joy Williams, NY
Angela Shute Woodson, OH