John,
I was just three years old when civil rights supporters marched through my birthplace of Selma, Alabama. There was no way of knowing then that eventually I would have the honor of serving in the U.S. House with the man who led them -- John Lewis.
But that's the story of America.
America has lost a true hero. A man I was so fortunate to call a friend.
John Lewis was the living embodiment of a life dedicated to fighting for justice. At the young age of 18, John marched, sang, protested, and consistently fought for equal and fair ballot access for Black Americans. As part of the historic "Big Six," he stood at the forefront of a movement that changed the course of American history.
Throughout the civil rights movement, John practiced his trademark "good trouble" through civil disobedience and peaceful protest, which were met with violence at the hands of angry white mobs and police, leading to over 40 arrests. When attempting to peacefully integrate a lunch counter in Nashville, he and his fellow activists were brutally beaten and imprisoned. On March 7th, 1965, John and many others marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They were met with state troopers with clubs and tear gas. He thought he was going to die that day, now known as "Bloody Sunday."
But that never stopped him.
John knew all too well what was at stake. He knew that living a just and meaningful life did not mean standing by and living in a world where racial inequality existed. Back on the House floor in December 2019, John made it clear: "We have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history."
Throughout our time together in Congress, we shared a commitment to ensure that the rights that he fought so hard for were afforded to all Americans. John will continue to be a shining beacon in my life, a guide of what it means to serve others and, indeed, be on the right side of history.
I will forever find strength in John's spirit, and I will always work toward building an America that fosters fairness, equality, and justice for all who call our country home.
And an essential part of that vision is what John risked his life for on that bridge in Selma -- the fundamental right to vote. For the last 10 years, we've watched the Supreme Court and politicians undermine this critical right. It's time for that to end. All Americans must be able to exercise their right to vote.
Please join me and demand the Senate honor John Lewis's legacy by restoring the Voting Rights Act. Thank you,
Suzan DelBene
PO Box 477, Kirkland, WA 98083
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