"You want to honor John? Let's honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for." - President Barack Obama

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, but to tell you the truth, the VRA hasn’t been the same since a devastating Supreme Court decision gutted the landmark piece of legislation in 2013.

The decision gave states with long histories of voter discrimination free reign to institute extreme voting laws, include ID restrictions, cutbacks to early voting, purging of voter rolls, and moving or shuttering polling locations.

These laws effectively suppress votes of Americans all over the country and undermine our democracy.

10,000 SIGNATURES NEEDED BY SUNDAY:

Something needs to be done -- will you add your name to mine and demand Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell take action in the Senate to restore the VRA and protect voting rights?

We lost an incredible champion for voting rights in Congressman John Lewis.

The Voting Rights Act -- which secured the right to vote and protected voters from discrimination, particularly voters of color -- was passed into law just months after Rep. Lewis and other civil rights activists were brutally beaten while marching for voting rights across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

Rep. Lewis never once gave up the fight to protect access to the ballot.

Last year with Rep. Lewis at the helm, the House advanced a measure that would protect voting rights and restore the VRA to its full intended meaning, but in the more than 200 days that have passed since then, McConnell has done nothing.

Rep. Lewis’ fight -- or what he called “good trouble” -- made our country stronger. We can honor his memory by advancing the House’s measure through the Senate.

We need 10,000 signatures by Sunday to deliver to McConnell’s desk Monday morning. Please add your name and demand McConnell and the Senate take action to restore the VRA and protect voting rights and the foundation of our democracy.

Thank you and take care,

Mikie