The life of John Lewis
Rep. John Lewis, an icon of the civil rights movement, is now fighting for his life. This is his story.
Civil rights leader
He was born in Alabama in 1940, the son of sharecroppers. He attended several segregated schools during the Jim Crow-era South. At 15, he was inspired by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. and at 20, he joined the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. At 21, he joined the Freedom Rides of 1961, which led to the desegregation of public busses. At 23, he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. At 25, he helped lead the Selma to Montgomery march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Marching record
The marchers were attacked and beaten by Alabama state troopers on what came to be known as Bloody Sunday. At 37, he worked in the Carter administration in a department overseeing volunteer service. At 41, he was elected to the Atlanta City Council where he advocated for ethics in government and neighborhood preservation. At 47, he was elected to The House of Representatives representing Georgia's 5th district — where he’s been re-elected 14 times.
Protesting
As a congressman he’s led several nonviolent actions including a gun reform sit-in on the House floor. In March 2003, Lewis spoke to a crowd of 30,000 in Oregon during an anti-war protest before the start of the Iraq War. He was arrested in 2006 and 2009 and outside the Sudan embassy in protest against the genocide in Darfur. He’s also boycotted the inaugurations of George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. As a member of the Democratic Congressional leadership, he served as senior chief deputy whip since 2003. At 71, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama. At 79, he announced a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Brut.
418 comments
Michael S.
11/17/2020 16:19Lets hear about the story of the Biden supporters marching in D.C. seeking out the elderly, and families to assault, beat, spit on, and smash em on their heads. Lets hear you denounce the violence, lets hear you CALL OUT Biden supporters for their Evil and violence... lets hear it! Oh? silence? if you are silent about it... then you are PART of it
Sharon W.
11/09/2020 16:16people have to be respectful of the USA vote.
Sula K.
11/09/2020 14:48https://youtu.be/WZWRhLW7Y8w
Curt N.
11/09/2020 14:17No thanks to Joe Biden.
Jalil B.
11/09/2020 10:05I have said many times and I experienced it myself just like in police force among senators are a few racist. Americans have to voted out.these are pushing Trump in the wrong direction now
Celia G.
11/09/2020 04:44True
Luis R.
11/09/2020 02:43JOHN LEWIS IN THE WORK THAN HE DID TO GET IN THE LEVEL HE WAS BEFORE HE DIED INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT AWESOME BLACK MAN RIP THE BEST.
Matt B.
11/09/2020 02:32He is my personal hero. What an incredible human. Rest in Power. We will continue your fight.
Shirley R.
11/09/2020 01:33“RIP, your work is done! We got this.🙏🏻💙💯🌹”
Tiny H.
11/09/2020 00:41Inspirational man ❤
Abdi N.
11/08/2020 23:50A patriot and an African-American hero!
Liz K.
11/08/2020 22:32https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygRLrbE85ws
Kelly D.
06/24/2020 09:53R. I. P.
Joshua C.
02/24/2020 17:41You forgot KEEPING RACISM ALIVE
Beverley G.
02/24/2020 13:17Happy Birthday
Christina S.
02/22/2020 17:43Congressman Lewis, you are the most admirable and inspirational and dedicated person, whom our county is so blessed to have as a citizen and representative. Wishing you a happy healthy birthday. Thank you!
Daniel H.
02/22/2020 16:06Glad you died, give Baltimore a chance.
Randale C.
02/22/2020 02:03My king you will always be in spirit with the people for now you dwell amongst your ancestors the ones that have departed this world before you peace
Kent B.
02/22/2020 01:55Didn't he die?
Ben B.
02/21/2020 23:11This clown didnt even clap or stand up when the little black girl recieved tuition for school at the SOTU ..