250,000

This is incredible. In just a few days, almost 250,000 people have signed our petition to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. Now we need to take the next step — to organize to get it done. Please make a contribution, of any amount you can afford, to the John Lewis Bridge Project. 

Here’s why this request is so important:

As we wipe away this country's long stain of bigotry, we must also wipe away the names of men like Edmund Pettus — an officer in the Confederate Army and Klu Klux Klan Grand Dragon. 

Our campaign has received almost 250,000 signatures and has been supported by Alabama Senator Doug Jones, Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-7), Oscar-winning director Ava DuVernay, actress and director Kerry Washington and former United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power. People from across the country, from every background and every walk of life have spoken out about the importance of renaming the bridge. 

Now we need your help to take the next step. We need to continue to raise awareness and spread the word, to tell the story about what happened on that bridge and why John Lewis deserves to have his name on it, not a Klan member. We need to also continue to reach out to state officials in Alabama as well as federal officials in Washington to make this happen. That takes resources, but we can get it done — if you’re with us. So we’re asking:

Please make a contribution — of any amount — to help us change the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the John Lewis Bridge.

Thank you for making your voice heard. When the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge is changed to the John Lewis Bridge, please know it’s what you did in the last week, it’s what you did today that made it possible.

All my best,

Michael Starr Hopkins