Dear Senator Booker...

Dear Senator Booker,

Last night, I tuned in shortly after you began speaking on the Senate floor. As I moved through my evening routine—getting my house settled, tucking my kids into bed—I kept checking back in to see if you were still going. When I finally went to bed at 1 AM, you were still speaking. When I woke up at 6:45 AM, you were still speaking. All day long, I continued to check in on you like I would check on a friend, hoping you were holding up.

Tonight, shortly after 7PM, after over 25 hours, you ended.

I find myself deeply honored to have witnessed, even from afar, the weight and courage of what you did. You stood for hours—not for applause, not for theatrics—but to hold the line on democracy, to refuse to normalize corruption, and to remind us that history is not written only by the powerful but by those willing to stand in the gap.

You reminded me that democracy is not self-sustaining. It requires vigilance, sacrifice, and relentless commitment.

Thank you, Senator Booker, for modeling what it looks like to stay in the fight even when it’s hard, uncomfortable, and exhausting. I hope our children grow up in a world where this kind of leadership isn’t the exception but the expectation.

Sincerely,

Victoria Henderson Weber

President | NAACP Des Moines