Issue One honors a civil rights hero, calls for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

In conjunction with today’s day of action to honor the late Congressman John Lewis and his lifetime of fighting for civil rights, Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman issued the following statement in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:

“Today, we remember a towering figure in our nation’s history. As a lifelong warrior for civil rights, John Lewis dedicated his life to protect every American’s sacred right to vote. On this and every day, we must commit ourselves to the noble struggle that Rep. Lewis embodied and work to help achieve the promise of America. 

“That pursuit remains as important as ever. In the wake of the highest election turnout our country has ever seen, nearly every state legislature has introduced legislation containing proposals that would make it harder to vote. This is a dangerous step backwards for our democracy. It is imperative that our elected leaders in Congress take action to protect our freedom to vote by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the Voting Rights Act, which has long enjoyed strong bipartisan support and was last reauthorized under President George W. Bush with a 98-0 vote in the Senate.

“But that alone is not enough. We are witnessing a crisis in our democracy that Congress must address by passing sweeping reforms to create a democracy that works for everyone. We owe it to ourselves and heroes like John Lewis to fix our political system so the voices of everyday Americans are heard over big money and the special interests.

“With hope and resolve, let us honor the legacy of John Lewis and keep his unwavering spirit alive as we strive to create a more perfect union.”