Saying Goodbye to a Congressman and a Civil Rights Icon
John Lewis was a titan, not only in civil rights and politics but in life.
The son of sharecroppers, he grew to be an icon of the civil rights movement. His accomplishments were voluminous. He was one of the original Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and a leader of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, an inflection point in the struggle for racial equality.
Lewis was an incomparable leader, the conscience of the Congress.
He represented Georgia’s 5th district for more than thirty years, serving on the United States House Committee on Ways and Means and as chair of the Oversight Committee. In 2011, President Barack Obama presented Lewis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his courageous, unwavering commitment to justice.
In a 2016 interview, Lewis highlighted the important contributions made by women during the civil rights movement:
“There were some women like Ella Baker, Diane Nash...but I truly think and believe women were discriminated against. They did all of the work, they did the heavy lifting. They were kept back. It was a woman, a teacher at Alabama State College, Jo Ann Robinson, that said we should boycott the buses. [She said] you should organize your students. So we made leaflets and people spread them all over the city of Montgomery. Then people started staying off the buses.”
Always in fervent defense of equal justice and equal rights, Lewis was beloved for his kindness and humility and recognized as a trailblazer.
Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for your contributions to Georgia, our nation, the world. Thank you for uplifting women and girls, for seeing the value in our work, for championing us in the House. Thank you for teaching us that you're never too young to lead and imparting your wisdom to the next generation. You will be missed but your legacy will not be forgotten.
Rest in Power. Rest In Peace. Well done.