Friend,

It’s with deep sadness and respect that we honor the passing of Representative John Conyers, Jr.

For over 50 years―as the longest serving Black member of Congress―John Conyers represented the people of our district and millions across the country.

He was far ahead of his time, from spearheading the push for reparations, to being one of only seven votes opposing funding of the Vietnam War, to calling for a Medicare for All system as far back as the 1970s, to advocating for the rights of Palestinians―John Conyers was a true trailblazer, laying the groundwork for so many of the progressive battles that we fight for today.

As a leader within the civil rights movement, Representative Conyers opposed the death penalty and brought national attention to the issue of police brutality. He co-sponsored the Voting Rights Act of 1965, successfully passed legislation making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a national holiday, and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

In 1974, during the Watergate investigation, Conyers advocated for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon “to restore our government to proper balance of constitutional power and to serve notice on all future presidents that such abuse of power will never again be tolerated.”

Representative Conyers’s words hold true today as we, once again, battle the blatant abuse of power coming from the White House.

Today, join me in honoring Representative John Conyers’s historic service and sacrifice on behalf of the American people.

Thank you,

Rashida