Today marks the fourth anniversary of civil rights hero and Congressman John Lewis’s passing. For six decades, he fought tirelessly to expand and protect the rights of Black voters and all Americans. The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 was one of the crown jewels of his lifelong fight for justice and equality. But, in recent years, the Supreme Court has gutted this crucial civil rights law, ushering in a new era of suppressive state laws and politicians attempting to silence our voices. We can fix that by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore and strengthen essential protections of the VRA, shielding millions of voters from potentially discriminatory voting laws. PROTECT VOTING RIGHTSAcross the nation, we’re seeing attacks on voting rights for Black and brown Americans, the likes of which we haven’t seen since Jim Crow. Draconian voter ID laws. Rolling back mail-in voting. Purging eligible voters from the rolls. We simply can’t let these tactics succeed. So, while these extremists seek to divide us and suppress our voices, Common Cause is committed to honoring the memory and struggle of John Lewis by calling for the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This landmark bill would ensure states and localities with histories of discrimination get federal approval before changing voting laws, protecting voters nationwide from discrimination and unfair restrictions. Listen, Frank, we know there's a lot of uncertainty and unrest right now, but we can't lose sight of our mission – to ensure that EVERY voter can cast their vote on Election Day, free from obstruction or intimidation. Congressman John Lewis dedicated his life to fighting inequality wherever he saw it. He reminded us that “Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.” Now it’s our turn to continue the struggle by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. TAKE ACTIONWe have a duty—a moral obligation—to stand strong for our democratic principles and restore protections to the VRA – because our democracy works best when we all have a seat at the table. I hope you’ll join me in honoring the legacy of Congressman John Lewis today by demanding Congress pass this essential voting rights bill. Thank you for all you do, Aaron Scherb, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs | |
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