Team,

John Lewis was an American hero, a civil rights icon who refused to rest on his legacy and kept fighting for justice—in his words—as long as he had air in his lungs.

His passing, especially right now, hits hard. It has many of us asking how to honor his life’s work to the extent it deserves. Mitch McConnell put out a statement over the weekend calling John Lewis a hero—it was a nice gesture.

But those were just words. Mitch’s actions tell an entirely different story—one where Mitch has actively stood in the way of the progress John Lewis spent his life fighting for.

Back in 1965, John Lewis nearly died on the Edmund Pettus Bridge marching for the Voting Rights Act, which would outlaw long-entrenched racial discrimination against minority voters. The bill passed later that year, fundamentally changing our democracy for the better. It is, beyond question, one of the most important pieces of legislation in our nation’s history.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court gutted the law in 2013 on the incorrect notion that it had done its job. Since that ruling, we’ve seen a systematic, deliberate attempt to restrict access to the ballot booth—particularly in communities of color. Voters have been purged from the rolls, polling locations have been reduced, and unnecessary ID laws have been passed—all intended to keep people from voting.

Until the day he died, John Lewis was still leading the fight to undo that damage and restore critical protections that help guarantee all Americans’ right to vote. Just last December, he presided over the House when it passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would undo much of the damage of 2013.

That legislation has been sitting on Mitch McConnell’s desk for 227 days, because he has refused to even hold a vote. If Mitch wants to honor John Lewis, he should start by holding a vote on that bill—tomorrow.

Join me—add your name in calling on Mitch McConnell to set aside partisanship for one day and help restore the Voting Rights Act.

As his electoral opponent, maybe I’m not supposed to say this—but I sincerely hope Mitch surprises us. I’ll be the first to applaud him for doing what’s right instead of what was good for Mitch.

But make no mistake. If he doesn’t act, I’ll proudly help get the job done when I’m in the Senate next year.

Thank you,

Amy