John,

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the crown jewel of the civil rights movement.

When it was signed into law 59 years ago today, it was the culmination of perseverance, commitment, and people who gave their lives so that other people would have that right to vote. Proof that ordinary people can come together to make extraordinary progress.

While the Voting Rights Act never solved all of our democracy’s problems, it proved to be a powerful xxxxxx against those who would try to stop eligible voters from casting a ballot.

That all changed in 2013, when the conservative majority on the Supreme Court — led by Chief Justice John Roberts — invalidated key parts of the law, in what I believe to be an extremely wrongly decided decision. Without the preclearance requirement for states with a history of discrimination, some states rushed to pass strict new voting rules in an effort to lower turnout among communities of color.

It was a major blow. But John, as long as we've been a nation, we have been in a constant struggle about who makes the decisions about the policy and direction of the country.

Now, we must do all that we possibly can to ensure that, as Dr. King said, the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice. What we need to understand is that arc doesn't bend on its own. It only bends when people like us put our hands on that arc and pull it towards justice.

Understand this: There's no cavalry coming. We are the cavalry.

So I ask you… What are you doing to pull that arc towards justice?

We have a sacred charge to uphold the Voting Rights Act and the legacy of those who gave their lives so that we may all have the right to vote. It’s an unfinished march, but I'm confident that by working together, we can protect — and even enhance — our democracy.

— Eric H. Holder, Jr.

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