John Lewis meets Tybre Faw.

What with a dreadful Supreme Court ruling on the heels of another dreadful ruling, and the much-feared announcement of the resignation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, it’s been an especially rough few days for progressives.

It’s not the first time since Donald Trump became the squatter in the White House that feels as if it’s raining political razor blades. My email box since morning has been gorged with communications from acquaintances, friends, and allies bemoaning our perilous situation, wondering how we will get out of the authoritarian fix we are in, uncertain how we will emerge into the light from our darkened political circumstances that have the potential to shackle our liberties and shred our rights long after the Trump regime itself is ashes and dust. The myriad sighs in those textual communications are nearly audible.

For that reason, a certain congressman’s words require repeating:

x Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. #goodtrouble — John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 27, 2018

It’s not the first time I’ve heard Lewis use such language. More than half a century ago, in 1964, a few of us got directly from him the final polish on our training to persuade black Mississippians to register to vote: Freedom Summer. We had arrived in Jackson just four days after three civil rights workers had disappeared—people we assumed had been slain though this wouldn’t be confirmed for six more weeks.

Lewis, just 24 years old at the time, told us the same thing he did in that tweet of his today. Do not despair. Be hopeful.