Unfortunately, voting is a right that is once again under attack.
A few weeks after I was first elected to the U.S. Congress in November of 2018, I traveled to Washington for congressional orientation. Amidst the many panel presentations, policy discussions and introductions to my new colleagues, there was one experience that I will simply never forget — meeting civil rights hero, and my future colleague, John Lewis, for the very first time. I didn’t fully appreciate how nervous I was to meet him until we shook hands. I couldn’t believe it — here he was, this incredible, courageous man, who had stood with Dr. King and literally bled on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to defend the civil rights of so many. As we greeted each other, I told him how honored I was to shake his hand, and how grateful I was for all that he had done to pave the way for someone like me to be able to serve in public office. I was taken aback when he said had heard of my election as Colorado’s first Black Congressperson and offered words of wisdom for my wife and I. As she can attest, I left the interaction both speechless and teary-eyed. That evening, now more than two years ago, was the first of many occasions in which Congressman Lewis expressed the same admonition that he shared with so many others across the country — that the struggle for justice and equality continues, and requires participation from all of us. That the work to secure the right to vote, and to protect the civil rights of every American is not over.
