In Remembrance
Rep. John Lewis (1940-2020)
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- In Remembrance
John Lewis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Pres. Obama
We mourn with the nation the passing of Rep. John Lewis who was one of the leaders of the 1960's Civil Right Movement working side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King. At age 23 he spoke at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. He was also one of the leaders of the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, AL. During that march he was beaten by police as they crossed the Edmond Pettus Bridge. He repeatedly put his life at risk and was beaten, bled and jailed as he pursued racial and social justice through non-violence. Among the members of the Congress he was known as the "Conscience of the Congress".
NACRJ honors Rep. John Lewis, celebrates his life and legacy, and mourns his passing. He was a living legend and an inspiration to all who continue working toward the realization of a safe, just, and equitable society.
Read the OpEd written by the Honorable John R. Lewis shortly before his death and published on the day of his funeral by the New York Times.