From SEIU Virginia:
“Today, a coalition of prominent Black women leaders released a joint open letter endorsing Abigail Spanberger.
The letter, titled “Protect What Sustains Us: Good Jobs and Dignity,” frames the election as a choice about “priorities, not personalities” and calls on Virginians to support Spanberger as a proven partner for working families. It’s signed by SEIU International President April Verrett, SEIU Virginia 512 President LaNoral Thomas, and ten other prominent state and local leaders.
You can read the full open letter here: https://www.seiuva.org/
[…]
Best,
Evelyn Wang, SEIU Virginia 512″
Black Women Leaders, SEIU Presidents Stand United Behind Abigail Spanberger to Deliver for Virginia’s Working Families
RICHMOND, VA – A coalition of powerful Black women leaders – including SEIU International President April Verrett and SEIU Virginia 512 President LaNoral Thomas – released a joint letter today expressing their support for Abigail Spanberger in advance of the November 4 election. The statement, titled “Protect What Sustains Us: Good Jobs and Dignity,” calls Spanberger a proven partner for working people and urges Virginians to choose leadership rooted in respect, equity, and results.
The letter reads: “Black women have carried Virginia on our backs for generations. This election isn’t about personalities; it’s about priorities. It’s about whether we want a Virginia that invests in the people who make it work or one that keeps asking working families to do more with less.”
The open letter was co-signed by a diverse group of leaders, including:
- April Verrett, President, Service Employees International Union
- LaNoral Thomas, President, SEIU Virginia 512
- Minyon Moore, CO-Convenor Power Rising
- Shavon Arline-Bradley, REACH Beyond Solutions
- Donna L Brazile, Former Chairwoman, Democratic National Committee
- Rhonda Briggins, President, Delta for Women in Action (D4)
- Bishop Leah D. Daughtry
- Tonya V. James, Prince William Democrats
- Karen Finney, Black Women’s Leadership Collective
- Yolanda Caraway, Co-Founder and Chair, Rise United
- Natalie Louise Lucas-Shorter, The Black Women’s Leadership Collective
- Tammie Wondong-Ware, President, SEIU Fairfax Chapter Executive Board
Together, these leaders call on Virginia voters – particularly Black women, who have long been the backbone of civic engagement and progress across the state – to rally behind Spanberger as a champion for good jobs, affordable childcare, healthcare access, and the right to organize.
The letter said: “We want leaders who show up, listen, and get results. [Abigail Spanberger] has shown she can be that kind of leader. She’s fought to lower prescription drug costs, protect healthcare for working families, and make childcare more affordable. She supports workers’ right to unionize, funding for public schools, and strengthening Virginia’s fair housing protections. Her leadership is grounded in respect, not rhetoric.”
The letter emphasizes that programs like Medicaid and SNAP are lifelines for millions of Virginians and that the next governor must safeguard these supports, not slash them. Spanberger’s record – from lowering prescription drug costs to backing collective bargaining rights – reflects those priorities.
As the letter concludes: “To our sisters across Virginia: we see you, we’ve got you, and we’re not backing down. This November, let’s choose dignity over division, let’s choose to build a Virginia that finally works for all of us. Let’s choose Abigail Spanberger.”
###
ABOUT SEIU
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a union of nearly 2 million diverse members united by the belief in the dignity of all workers and the power of collective action. SEIU members work in healthcare, the public sector, and property services and are committed to building an economy and democracy that works for everyone.
ABOUT SEIU Virginia 512
In 2006, SEIU began its organizing efforts in Virginia, and in 2012, united local chapters in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, and among Home Care providers across the Commonwealth. The Fairfax Deputy Sheriffs joined the ranks in 2013, and through political and community organizing, SEIU collaborated with partners and allies to successfully overturn the ban on collective bargaining. Membership continued to grow, and, in 2023, Richmond City workers became part of SEIU Virginia 512. Over 4,000 members strong, SEIU Virginia 512 stands firm in the belief that all working families deserve dignity, respect, fair wages, benefits, and a voice in the workplace.
