Sarbanes Message on John Lewis National Day of Action [VIDEO]

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03) shared the following message to mark the John Lewis National Day of Action, which commemorates the fourth anniversary of Representative Lewis' passing by sparking a call to action for the passage of key legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The video can be viewed here(link is external).

Transcript:

Hey everybody, this is Congressman Sarbanes.

Just wanted to share a few thoughts with you about the late great John Lewis. We lost him four years ago. He, as you know, was a great fighter for civil rights, for voting rights, for lifting up the voice of every American to make sure that we all have dignity and that we're all respected.

I was privileged to serve with him in Congress for a number of years, and also to see his leadership on critical pieces of legislation that I've helped to carry forward over the last few years. One is the Freedom to Vote Act, the first 300 pages of which he wrote. It's about access to the ballot box, making sure that every American can vote, can have their voice heard and registered in our democratic process. And that bill also addresses partisan gerrymandering. It addresses the influence of big money. And John Lewis understood the corrosive, corrupting effect that money had on our system. He talked about it many, many times.

He said: I didn't march over that bridge in Selma, just for voting rights. I marched over that bridge because I wanted to fix a broken system and make sure the voices of all Americans are being heard.

His name is also associated directly with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

So, he was a leader in so many ways, in Congress, of course, but just out there in the world, pulling people towards him, lifting them up, making sure they understood that they had value and worth and dignity.

And so, on this national day of actions - John Lewis National Day of Action - I hope that you'll take a few minutes to remember John Lewis, to remember what he stood for, but also to share that with others. Share it with your friends and your coworkers and your peers. Help them recognize what a difference his life made and how we have to carry his legacy forward.

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