Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of John Lewis, a civil rights giant who tirelessly worked to advance voting rights for people of color. There are many lessons we can take from his life of service and sacrifice.

1. Stand up for what is right, even when it’s unpopular. Many thought the young John Lewis’ views on racial justice were radical. In his speech at the 1963 March on Washington, Lewis, an organizer with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) remarked, “We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of people being locked up in jail over and over again. And then you holler 'be patient.' How long can we be patient? We want our freedom and we want it now!” His sentiments still ring true today.

2. We must organize, protest and vote to advance racial justice. Lewis’ support for a multi-pronged strategy included marching on Bloody Sunday, participating in sit-ins challenging segregation and voting in important elections after the passage of the Voting Rights Act by Congress. Racial injustice requires a full court press.

3. Advancing racial justice requires that we build multi-racial coalitions. In remarks shortly before his death, Lewis remarked in a statement, “Just as people of all faiths and no faiths, and all backgrounds, creeds, and colors banded together decades ago to fight for equality and justice in a peaceful, orderly, non-violent fashion, we must do so again.”

All of these lessons remain relevant to our current fight to protect access to the ballot box. With conservative lawmakers at both the state and national level attacking our democracy, the time is now to get into some ‘good trouble.’
How can you do this?

1. Join us Tomorrow, July 17 for the Good Trouble Vigil. In cities across the country, communities will come together to demand Congress pass the H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, S. 1, the For the People Act, and H.R. 51, a bill making DC the 51st state. This package of legislation will protect our freedom to vote while urging our elected officials to protect the legacy of John Lewis! Find a vigil near you today!

2. Call your U.S Senator at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to pass these three pieces of legislation by any means necessary – even if this means amending or abolishing the filibuster! We cannot allow a Senate rule not codified in the U.S. Constitution to block progress on voting rights.
Tomorrow, we pause to honor the legacy of John Lewis, a civil rights giant who tirelessly worked to advance voting rights for people of color. On the one-year anniversary of his passing, we celebrate his life of service and sacrifice, and call on Congress to pass federal legislation protecting the freedom to vote.

We hope you will join us in this important action. As Lewis famously declared, the “ballot is the most important nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society.” Our struggle continues.


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