John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, Incorporated’s commemorative Stamp Proposal

February 6, 2021

Stamp Development

Attn: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee

475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300

Washington, DC 20260-3501

Dear Committee Members:

We lost an American hero in July of last year: John Lewis. John Lewis’ relationship to civil rights is well known. His work and sacrifice to secure civil rights for all has had an extraordinary, unique positive, significant, extraordinary and enduring impact on America’s history, future, society and culture. He was one of the “Big Six” leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and declared during his speech at the 1963 March on Washington that “One man, one vote” is the African cry. It is ours too.”

Lewis spent decades fighting for voting rights, risking his life time and again, including when he was beaten by Alabama State troopers during a march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, on a day that became known as Bloody Sunday. Images of Bloody Sunday, including that of Lewis being beaten, were seen around the world; and led to the enactment of the Voting Rights Act.

President Lyndon Johnson introduced the Voting Rights Act during a Joint Session of Congress just a week after Bloody Sunday where he said “At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom. So it was at Lexington and Concord. So it was a century ago at Appomattox. So it was last week in Selma, Alabama.”

John Lewis’ name is almost synonymous with Selma. He devoted his life – as a Freedom Rider, Chairman of SNCC, Executive Director of the Voter Education Project, Associate Director of what became VISTA, Atlanta City Councilman, leader in the U.S. House of Representatives and an ordinary citizen – to advocating for voting rights, voter participation and voter education. Why? As he said, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non- violent tool we have in a democracy. We must protect it. We must use it.”

John Lewis’ face is the face of voting rights. Having it on a postage stamp will honor Lewis and the movement which he led and, in the process, encourage voter participation and civic engagement.

The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, Inc. strongly encourages the USPS to issue a stamp recognizing John Lewis’ extraordinary and enduring impact on our nation’s history, future, society and culture. I know John’s story is well known to you; however, if you have any questions or would like additional information, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Please let me know what are the next steps in the process of having the USPS issue a stamp honoring John Lewis. I can be reached directly at (xxx) xxx-xxxx and xxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com. Thank you for your support in this effort.