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Dear John, Over the weekend, we lost the conscience of Congress. We lost a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to justice and to making America better for all of us. We lost a friend. I learned so much from Congressman John Lewis. He was gracious, humble, and funny. He was someone who showed through his actions what it meant to love your neighbor, to risk bravely, to seek out "good trouble." He showed us how to make an impact. I feel blessed to have known and been able to spend time with him. I will cherish the memories I have with him, from marching together in Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, during the Faith & Politics Institute's annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage, to traveling together to South Africa and hosting his visits with community leaders and school kids in Wilmington. John Lewis was a true hero who made real progress in our country. He served on the frontlines in the fight to end Jim Crow laws and was an original freedom fighter. One of the most impactful culminations of John Lewis' activism was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This critical legislation prohibited voting discrimination and suppression, based on race, and helped sweep in progress almost immediately. Shortly after it was signed, voter turn-out rates in Black communities increased and more Black Americans were elected to federal office. In 2013, the Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, allowing states with a history of voter suppression to change their election laws without federal approval. This decision was a blow to the progress the Voting Rights Act had achieved, yet John never gave up faith. He knew that the fight for justice was an ongoing battle, and he helped Democrats in the House pass legislation to restore the dignity of the original Voting Rights Act. We can honor John by passing this bill in the Senate, but I'll need your help to do so. Senate leadership has stalled on bringing this legislation to the floor for a vote. Will you sign my petition to show a groundswell of support for restoring the Voting Rights Act? John Lewis gave himself completely to the fight for the dignity and justice of every human being. He changed our country for the better and will be sorely missed. We can honor his legacy by never giving up on our pursuit of a more fair, equitable America. Here's to making good trouble in John's memory, Chris | |
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