Dearest supporters and friends, 

Today, our nation came together in a time to pay eternal and deep gratitude to a man who inspired change for equality and justice for all citizens everywhere in this country and the world to be accepted and to have access to The American dream. In every generation, there are a rare amount of regular everyday people who go above and beyond the call of duty to stand up and do what is right, not knowing that what they do, will change the course of human history and global history forever. And there are a few who transform the course of human history and global history by continuously fighting with their heart and soul to see that the injustice against humanity is eradicated from this earth and bringing forth a better day ahead for all citizens, regardless of nationality, religion, gender preference and more.

For all of his 8 decades of his life John Lewis always had that passion and that desire to make a difference even though he was a regular person who had to endure the greatest of all sins, bigotry and the violation of human rights against people who had the same nationality as he. Growing up in the segregated south, he realized that he needed to stand up and be heard and to make sure others were heard too. A follower and colleague of Martin Luther King Jr., he participated in lunch counter sit-ins, joined the Freedom Riders in challenging segregated buses and -- at the age of 23 – was one of the youngest keynote speaker at the historic 1963 March on Washington, which he said at the time of the famous march,

"We do not want our freedom gradual; we want to be free now,"

At age 25, he was one among many who lead a march for voting rights on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where he and other marchers were met by heavily armed state and local police who attacked them with clubs, fracturing Lewis' skull. Images from that "Bloody Sunday" shocked the nation and galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. He said about that day "I gave a little blood on that bridge I thought I was going to die. I thought I saw death." His fight kept him going all the way to the halls of congress which in 1987, he was elected to.

His courage, hope, determination, and his vision of “A more perfect union” was seen when in 2008, America voted for the first person of African American nationality, Barack H. Obama, to the highest office in the nation, president of The United States. He was recognized for his efforts when in 2011, 5 decades after that very poignant moment in history in which Mr. Lewis risked his life to fight for those who couldn't speak up for themselves, with the highest civilian honor, The presidential medal of freedom award. Through it all, up till the final day and hour of his earthly journey, Mr. Lewis did not stop speaking up or standing up for those who couldn't speak out or stand up for themselves. 

He gave his all for the young people and all those who didn't have the power to speak up. He got into, what he liked to call "Good trouble" and because of it, we are now becoming examples of how we can use the power of our courage and more and yes, even getting into "Good trouble" to speak on issues that still need to be addressed, such as Bullying and Bully-cide in which it still must be addressed. 

And so today, we must stand up, speak out, and do more against the evils that our youth are enduring now, and even with school just around the corner, in his last message to the people in today's New York Times that was published today, he stated this: 

"Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.

When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide."

Let's all walk together and stand up for our youth, let's give them a voice of justice and a consciousness to speak up against bullying and to give families who have endured the loss of a child by bully-cide a sense of justice. Let's make this message heard loud and clear in memorial to the might voice of America, and let his life and his legacy be not in vain. Let us finish the unfinished business whereby all can live in peace and go to school in peace without the fear of being bullied because of their gender preference, religion, etc. and give them the courage to reclaim the hallways, the streets and more to become the champions of change this brave man was able to inspire. 

Sincerely, 

Christopher C. Gagliardi 

Petition Sponsor

Give the youth the rights for justice against bullies!