Community Corner
Civil Rights Hero, Icon John Lewis Changed America By Making ‘Good Trouble’
Lewis, who died of pancreatic cancer, was often referred to as the "Conscience of Congress."
By Jill Nolin
July 20, 2020
When Civil Rights icon and longtime Georgia Congressman John Lewis died late Friday night at the age of 80, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the country had lost “one of the greatest heroes of American history.”
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Lewis, who died of pancreatic cancer, was often referred to as the conscience of Congress.
The Troy, Alabama, native is best known nationally for the beating he endured at the hands of police in 1965 while leading hundreds in the Bloody Sunday march across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Images of the violence – and his beating, in particular – are often credited with spurring passage of the Voting Rights Act that same year.
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Lewis was the youngest and last surviving member of the Big Six Civil Rights activists who led the fight to end legalized segregation and overturn Jim Crow laws. He was arrested dozens of times and also beaten as a Freedom Rider. He spoke at the March on Washington in 1963, sharing a stage with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
But back at home, he is also remembered for his joy – often expressed in the form of dance – and his unceasing activism and call for what he described as “good trouble.”
From a statement Lewis issued in May in response to the civil unrest that followed the death of George Floyd:
“To the rioters here in Atlanta and across the country: I see you, and I hear you. I know your pain, your rage, your sense of despair and hopelessness. Justice has, indeed, been denied for far too long. Rioting, looting, and burning is not the way. Organize. Demonstrate. Sit-in. Vote. Be constructive, not destructive.
“History has proven time and again that non-violent, peaceful protest is the way to achieve the justice and equality that we all deserve,” he said. “Our work won’t be easy — nothing worth having ever is — but I strongly believe, as Dr. King once said, that while the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends toward justice.”
Lewis might have been one of the more liberal members of Congress, but he was not a strict partisan. When now-retired long-time Republican Georgia U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson stepped aside last year, Lewis paid tribute in a floor speech that he memorably concluded by saying “I will come over to meet you, brother” before walking over to hug Isakson.
The beloved congressman’s death quickly prompted tributes from both sides of the aisle.
“No one embodied the word ‘courage’ better than John Lewis,” Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue said in a statement. “As a civil rights icon, John inspired millions of Americans to fight injustice and reject the status quo. Without a doubt, his wisdom and resolve made the world a better place.”
Georgia State Sen. Nikema Williams, who chairs the Democratic Party of Georgia, said the nation lost a giant.
“Congressman John Lewis was America’s greatest champion in the fight for justice and equality, and showed us all how to put the people first,” Williams said. “His legacy of Good Trouble will ring on in generations to follow, a guiding light for those continuing to march toward a more righteous future.”
Virginia senators and representatives, both Republican and Democrat, also paid tribute to Lewis, who visited Richmond last year for the unveiling of the “Rumors of War” statue along the renamed Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
Rep. John Lewis was a fighter, a leader, and an American hero. He dedicated his life to the betterment of this country. I hope his example will be an inspiration for the next generation. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/a2lFyXGksq
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 18, 2020
“His determination and lived belief in our obligation to build a more just society — no matter the personal cost — transformed our country, and challenges us today to pick up the mantle of civic engagement enshrined forever in Lewis’ legacy,” said U.S. Rep. Don McEachin, D-Richmond. “I am grateful to have had the privilege to count one of my heroes as my colleague and my friend. He was a gift to us all and we will miss him.”
For his freedom ride at age 21, John Lewis was taunted, beaten, and arrested. Asked why he persisted, he explained, “Every generation leaves behind a legacy… What legacy do you want to leave behind?” Congressman Lewis’s moral courage transformed this country. May it live on.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) July 18, 2020
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Montross, called him a “towering leader” who put his constituents first.
“While our political leanings were opposed, we were united in our desire to serve all Americans,” Wittman said.
A year or so ago, I had the opportunity to introduce my son Davis to Congressman John Lewis. He was honored to meet this icon of the civil rights movement, who had marched tirelessly but peacefully for equality. pic.twitter.com/bA22zNj2mB
— Morgan Griffith (@RepMGriffith) July 18, 2020
U.S Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, the longest serving member of Virginia’s delegation, said Lewis’ death was a “horrible loss” for the country.
“We will all miss him and his moral leadership at this time,” Scott said.
Mercury Editor Robert Zullo contributed to this story.
This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.
