60 years ago today, after years of struggle and sacrifice, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became the law of the land. That law was meant to protect the right to vote of people in every state—and in particular, in states like Texas, which has a long and shameful history of discrimination when it comes to voting.

It was a great Texan, President Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the bill into law.  And Texas Democrats are carrying on that work today to ensure that all Texans and all Americans have not only the right to vote but the ability to exercise that right freely and without interference.

Make no mistake: the right to vote is under attack, in Texas and across the country.  From restrictive voting laws, to terrible court decisions, to the current effort to redraw congressional maps to maximize Republican seats by diluting the voices of minority communities.

Today, we are reminded of the power and possibility of what we can achieve when we work together for progress.  We are also reminded of the importance of protecting the progress we have made.

As the late civil rights and voting rights hero Congressman John Lewis wrote in his final message to the nation he loved:

All of us can do something to protect our progress and our fundamental rights.  Let’s keep fighting—and getting in good trouble—for fair maps, for full participation in our democracy, and for a future we believe in.

Together, we can do anything,