“Good Trouble - Portrait of Rep. John Lewis”

"It's Always Right to Do Right." — John Lewis

"It's Always Right to Do Right." The bleak days when Black people were routinely beaten or murdered for attempting to exercise and defend their right to vote are not distant history.

Just 55 years ago, on March 7, 1965, John Lewis led 600 protesters on a march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery that was cut short by the violence of state troopers, police officers, and a county posse. After marchers reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, dozens were beaten and many were hospitalized. But a few days later, they marched again, and then again.

Rep. Lewis, like so many others in the civil rights era and beyond, laid his life on the line for voting rights. His leadership played a crucial role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He led a remarkable life, including speaking at the March on Washington and serving 12 terms in Congress.

Rep. Lewis's passing is a tragic loss, and we should honor his life of service by defending the rights that he fought for. In recent years, the foundations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have been eroded. The Voting Rights Advancement Act, which Congressman Lewis helped win majority support for in Congress last year, is a critical part of what our nation needs to do to ensure all Americans can exercise their right to vote.

As always, I hope my paintings communicate the most important art of all — the art of being human.

Please enjoy this painting as much as I enjoy creating it. Let me know your thoughts!

WORK IN PROGRESS TIME-LAPSE VIDEO IS IN HERE!

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