(Photograph: Photograph by Larry French/Getty Pictures for WS Productions)
United States Congressman and Civil Rights Icon John Lewis handed away this night with a number of reviews coming in about his demise. He was 80 years previous. The Georgia consultant had been recognized with pancreatic most cancers late final 12 months and his situation over the previous week had reportedly worsened. Born February 21, 1940 in Troy, Alabama, Lewis was a distinguished chief in the course of the Civil Rights motion within the 1960s, aiding within the March on Washington the place Dr. Martin Luther King gave his well-known “I Have A Dream” speech. He was additionally among the many many Freedom Riders that rode on buses to protest segregation on the similar time.
[email protected] was a titan of the civil rights motion whose goodness, religion and bravado reworked our nation. Daily of his life was devoted to bringing freedom and justice to all. pic.twitter.com/xMbfAUhLUv
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 18, 2020
After the March on Washington in 1963 got here the Selma-to-Montgomery, one other main protest and energy that he helped to prepare. Upon crossing the the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the protest crowd was met with violence by state troopers who attacked with nightsticks and tear gar. The occasion would go on to be generally known as “Bloody Sunday.” This explicit second in American historical past was depicted on the large display in Ava DuVernay’s 2014 movie Selma, which featured actor Stephan James enjoying the a part of Lewis.
Lewis was first elected to the U.S. Home of Representatives in 1986 and maintained his place there ever since, profitable re-election sixteen occasions in Georgia’s Fifth District. His heroism and tireless work as a citizen and consultant was acknowledged in 2011 when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
59 years in the past right this moment I used to be launched from Parchman Farm Penitentiary after being arrested in Jackson, MS for utilizing a so-called “white” restroom in the course of the Freedom Rides of 1961. pic.twitter.com/OUfgeaNDOm
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) July 7, 2020
In recent times Lewis wrote about his efforts in the course of the Civil Rights motion within the graphic novel trilogy March which he co-wrote with Andrew Aydin and which featured artwork by Nate Powell. The collection was awarded with an Eisner Award and two Harvey Awards plus a Nationwide Guide Award. The artistic staff had been additionally acknowledged because the “Comics Particular person of the Yr” by Time Journal in 2016. A characteristic documentary on Lewis was launched simply weeks in the past within the type of John Lewis: Good Hassle, subtitled after a continuously used quote from Lewis about his protest efforts from the 1960s and the way others can proceed to embody that spirit right this moment.
Don’t get misplaced in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our battle shouldn’t be the battle of a day, every week, a month, or a 12 months, it’s the battle of a lifetime. By no means, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good hassle, obligatory hassle. #goodtrouble
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 27, 2018
(Cowl photograph by Larry French/Getty Pictures for WS Productions)
