WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), published an op-ed today in an issue of the Ripon Forum dedicated to the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attack on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama on March 7.

Commemorating the anniversary of the Selma march, Senator Coons reflected on his friendship with John Lewis, the civil rights activist-turned-Congressman who retained hope in the promise of America despite growing up poor in the segregated South and nearly being beaten to death on Bloody Sunday. It was only a matter of months after the Selma march that the Voting Rights Act was enacted, protecting the values of American democracy.

Today, American democracy once again needs protection. He describes how President Donald Trump’s “efforts to ‘flood the zone’ with shock and awe actions are an attempt to convince the country not just that this is how things are, but how they will always be going forward.” In the face of that assault, however, Senator Coons reminds Americans that through sustained action and engagement, change can come quickly to our country, and he urges Americans to reflect on Lewis’ courage and commitment to justice.

Ripon Forum: Why Selma Matters Today

“For many Americans, the promise of the Constitution seems hard to hang onto right now. Over the last several weeks, the new administration has tried to shred the rule of law and the traditions and institutions our government has relied on. President Trump’s efforts to “flood the zone” with shock and awe actions are an attempt to convince the country not just that this is how things are, but how they will always be going forward. 

It is easy to give into despair and bitterness. Instead, I hope voters will think about John [Lewis] and the Selma marchers, only months away from realizing their dreams of the full right to vote. Through sustained action and engagement, things change in our country. They can change much faster than we expect.

We must work hard to restore the things we believe in, even if it seems hope is limited: a vision of human rights that is inclusive, a commitment to the rule of law that is sustained, a belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Change may not come in a matter of months, but above all else, we cannot stop believing that it will come. Despite it all, John never gave up on the promise of America and the work required to make it real. Neither may we.”