John Lewis Will Give Decatur Book Fest Keynote Speech

 U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) will give the keynote address at the Decatur Book Festival, the festival announced Tuesday.

Lewis was a civil rights leader before taking elected office, but he's also an author. He wrote an autobiography, Walking With the Wind, and most recently a graphic novel titled March, about the 1963 March on Washington.

“John Lewis is an iconic American figure of equality and freedom, a hero," said Daren Wang, book festival executive director. "Additionally, he is a phenomenal author who writes stories of significant events of our nation’s history – events that he directly participated in.

"Add to that the fact that Congressman Lewis lives in Atlanta, and he’s a perfect fit for the keynote speaker this year. We are very excited to kick off the festival with his powerful presence.”