Team,

Since the passing of Congressman John Lewis there has been an outpouring of love and activism from the millions of Americans who looked up to him and were inspired by his courage. He started as a young organizer marching across a Selma bridge, led bus boycotts, and was arrested over 40 times. He later became the youngest speaker at the March on Washington, and if that wasn't enough, he became known as the conscience of the Congress while he served. John learned, and taught us, that actions -- and creating good trouble -- were necessary to get things done. I was proud to be able to call him a friend and a colleague, and honored to join him in a sit in on the House floor in 2016 to demand then-Speaker Paul Ryan allow a vote on gun safety bills. As we look back at his life, we see the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and we are driven to power that movement forward.

Now, I'm going to be honest with you, I waited a few days to write to you about John's passing because I needed time to process our collective loss, but also because I wanted to ensure I honored my colleague's legacy through action. That is why today, while John Lewis lays in the United States Capitol, I am encouraging you to sign our petition demanding Congress honor his legacy by restoring the Voting Rights Act. [[link removed]]

SIGN ON NOW [[link removed]]

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made discriminatory voting practices illegal and ensured that Black Americans and other voters of color weren't blocked from the ballot box. And it worked.

But in 2013 the Voting Rights Act was gutted by the Supreme Court, letting GOP voter suppression run rampant. In the years since, we've seen states enact strict voter ID laws, purge voter rolls, shut down polling stations and more - making it harder for ALL of us to vote, especially people of color.

In honor of John Lewis - and with the most important election of our lifetimes just a few months away - Congress must act NOW to ensure all Americans are able to vote in November. That's why we need to come together to demand Congress restore the Voting Rights Act immediately. [[link removed]]

ADD YOUR NAME [[link removed]]

It was an honor serving with John and it will be my honor to help continue his fight. So, I thank you for joining me and in demanding the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, a bill Lewis spent his life fighting for.

With Gratitude,

Congressman Gerry Connolly
Virginia's 11th District

DONATE [[link removed]]


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