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What John Lewis tells us

I've been thinking a lot about my friend Rep. John Lewis these days, as the House passed the landmark voting rights bill that bears his name, only to see it stall in the Senate.

In particular, I think about John when I hear people talking about how the Senate's failures have dashed our hopes for voting rights reform.

Like you, I'm disappointed, confused, and frustrated by the Senate's repeated failure to step up and serve the American people.

But John was threatened, jailed, and beaten near death while fighting for the right to vote, and he didn't let any of it stop him.

I sure as hell am not going to let a couple of short-sighted Senators stop us.

John once said "In the movement, we didn't know how history would play itself out. When we were getting arrested and waiting in jail or standing in unmovable lines on the courthouse steps, we didn't know what would happen, but we knew it had to happen."

We named the voting rights bill after John Lewis to commemorate his courage and hard work. That's important, but it's still just a name. If we truly want to honor John's legacy, then we have to match the strength and commitment he brought to the fight for justice.

Now, we fight on. Because American democracy is in mortal danger. So, we'll fight on to get our voting rights protected by law, no matter what the odds are because, as my friend, John would say, it has to happen.

Best,
Jim

Posted on January 15, 2022.

Meet Jim

Jim McGovern represents the 2nd District of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has earned a national reputation as a tireless advocate for his district and as a champion for food security, human rights, campaign finance reform, social justice and peace.

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