Remembering John Lewis

Dear [firstname]:

With the passing of Congressman John Lewis on Friday, our nation lost a true hero of the civil rights movement.

John was a great man, but more importantly he was a very good man. He was a selfless champion for justice and equality who challenged the conscience of our country and called America to a higher standard.

I'm humbled to have worked alongside one of my heroes, and I'm heartbroken by his passing.

John believed in making good trouble – that all of us must find the moral courage to get in the way and do something when we see something that is wrong. I will never forget getting arrested together in front of the Sudanese Embassy as we protested the genocide in Darfur, or being part of a sit-in with John on the House Floor as we protested inaction in the aftermath of gun violence.

Nor will I ever forget John’s unshakeable optimism and hopefulness during these challenging times. John often spoke of a struggle that lasts beyond a single day, week, month or year. He called it the struggle of a lifetime – but it was never his fight alone. He called on each of us to rise to the occasion and do what is right, even when it is not easy.

Today, let us celebrate John’s memory. His voice and vision will stir hearts and spark change for generations to come. But tomorrow, let us pick up the baton, continue his struggle for justice and fairness, and keep making good trouble in his name.

That is the best way for us to honor his legacy.