Friend,

Today, we honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to civil rights and equality. This year in particular, Dr. King's work and legacy to protect and expand voting rights is more important than ever. As Dr. King's daughter-in-law Arndrea Waters King said:

"If we're really talking about celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., voting rights was a cornerstone of his legacy. We cannot simply in good faith celebrate him or celebrate that legacy with this current attack on access to the ballot box."

But what we're seeing from Republican-led state legislatures flies in the face of that legacy. They've passed bills to make it harder to vote -- bills that disproportionately disenfranchise Black and other marginalized communities.

That's why we are still pushing forward with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. We are committed to protecting the right to vote for all Americans. Voting rights are the core of our democracy, and our democracy is strongest when everyone is able to cast a ballot. We're not going to give up, it's simply too important.

Today and every day, I hope you will join me in remembering Dr. King and continuing to raise your voice for the right to vote.

Sincerely,

Chuck Schumer