This election season, we saw millions of new voters register, including millions of Latinx voters. Muslims, black people, Native Americans, LGBT people, and so many women were elected to represent us. For the first time in our nation’s history, over 100 women were elected to the House of Representatives.

Last night was historic not just because of these facts, but also because we took back the House in spite of massive voter suppression efforts.

Our sham of a democracy forced us to wait in three to five-hour-long lines. Our sham of a democracy purged us from the voter rolls. Our sham of a democracy changed our votes from Beto to Ted. Our sham of a democracy “ran out” of paper ballots for voters. Our sham of a democracy demanded that Native Americans living on reservations present a home address or be disenfranchised.

This election season, rich, out-of-touch white men did everything they could to take away our voice.

But you cannot silence a movement.

To everyone who voted for harm reduction: thank you.

To those who were beaten, castrated, burned, and murdered so that people other than white men could vote: thank you.

I am so proud of us.

And now, we must keep fighting the good fight so that one day, we have a system that is truly by and for the people.