Growing up in the South has shaped me as a man, an activist and a civil servant. From my teenage years of being denied access to a segregated library, to today, where my life’s work is making sure the hard-working people of Georgia have a strong voice and get a fair shot, there is one constant: I share my voice. I make sure I am heard.
We have worked hard to have our voices heard. Heroes fought to secure us the right to vote, and it is a precious, fundamental right. It is our duty to use that power. It is our duty to take it to the ballot box. It is our duty to encourage our fellow citizens to share their voices.
My hope is that everyone has the opportunity to raise their voice, and the first step begins when you register to vote. Voting is a powerful voice to share your thoughts, your dreams and your expectations for today and tomorrow. The exciting part is that our actions today speak loudly now and for generations to come.
As Robert F. Kennedy shared with us, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal … he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
That is an awesome power and privilege to influence those who will come after us.
It is incredibly important that we preserve and cherish our right to vote, all the while encouraging others to join us. I am proud of groups like the New Georgia Project that are undertaking voter registration in our state to make sure our underserved communities have a voice. We should celebrate, support and lift up organizations and individuals who do this important work.
For example, there is dire need in Georgia to enfranchise and engage those not fully part of our democracy. Specifically, there are more than 800,000 eligible African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans not registered to vote in the state. There is much work to be done.
There are many fine, upstanding organizations that are working hard to make sure more of our population has the opportunity to share their voices. I am grateful to Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and countless other leaders in our state who are engaging Georgians to take that first step and register to vote.
Voting is a sacred act. It combines your hope and trust for those that represent you, and it is not to be taken lightly.
I look forward to continue improving the lives of others and encouraging my fellow Georgians to share their voices. When our voices are shared and our hopes become a reality, it is a beautiful chorus for our democracy.
John Lewis, a Democrat, represents Georgia’s 5th Congressional District.
