After successfully getting his voting rights restored, Walter Lewis can move forward with the confidence he needed to support others who are looking to have their voices heard.

“Now I can tell people not to give up hope,” said Lewis. “You’ve got to be willing to get out there. Over the years, I’ve had people say they were working on it for me, and I’ve had people tell me that it can’t be done. “Ultimately, they did nothing. They were just talking.”

Lewis, a 49-year-old Hinds county resident, said he has been actively working to get his rights restored for 10 years. His rights were taken from him after committing a felony more than decade ago.

There were a lot of Mississippians’ names that were submitted and discussed during the state’s most recent legislative session, but many did not make it to be approved and signed by the governor. Lewis was one of eight people to have their voting rights restored with the help of One Voice and other advocacy groups.

Lewis, a successful truck driver and mentor, has been limited to what he can transport on his job. Having his rights restored will open up more opportunities for distribution and a bigger platform to teach others about their rights.

“Things happened in the past,” Lewis said. “Some things I did. Some things I didn’t. But I’ve done everything I was asked to do. I should be able to vote on the people who are making these decisions for me. Through it all, I’m still out here being a leader. People ask me questions all the time. Other people are out here lying to them because they want them working at McDonald’s and stuff. I want to see them win.”