Friend, as we enter Black History Month, I’m reflecting on my own past and how hard my ancestors fought so that I could get to where I am today.

In the Jim Crow era, my grandparents didn't have the right to vote. They had to deal with countless obstacles: discrimination, lower pay, higher job instability, voter suppression, and more. And people like them had to fight like hell just to have a fair say in their own government.

John Lewis – my hero and mentor – was one of them.

Beaten, jailed, and nearly killed for believing that every American deserved a voice in our democracy, John Lewis was unrelenting in his fight for our civil rights. It was his leadership that inspired me to become a civil rights attorney – and eventually, with his direct support, I joined the Congressional Black Caucus when I was in Congress.

I was proud to be a part of that – to be a driver for change. But now, at a moment where the GOP is actively working to silence Black and Brown voices through racial gerrymandering here in Texas, it's clear that my work is far from over.

The rights John Lewis and people like my grandparents fought so hard for are at greater risk than ever. That's why I'm running for TX-33 so that I can protect access to the ballot box, stop efforts to disenfranchise Black and Brown voters, and defend the democracy we've sacrificed so much to build up.

If that's something you're passionate about, I hope you'll consider chipping in $5 or whatever you can to my campaign today. Every dollar brings me closer to winning this seat, taking back the House for Democrats, and safeguarding our fundamental freedoms.

Let's ensure our rights continue to endure for generations to come.

– Colin Allred