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I write to you, John, absolutely heartbroken. Today we mourn the passing of a giant with the death of Congressman John Lewis. A hero, a mentor, and a fighter for good -- John Lewis dedicated his life to public service. He literally put his life on the line to advance the passage of historic civil rights legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Johnson.  John’s involvement in public life began as an activist in the civil rights movement. Under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he participated in lunch counter sit-ins, joined the Freedom Riders in challenging segregated buses, and at 23-years old, was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. Two years later he would lead the famous march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where police confronted the protestors and attacked them violently. On that “Bloody Sunday,” John’s skull was fractured by police clubs, but his tenacity and thirst for justice were unscathed. Images of the violence galvanized support for passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was signed into law later that year.  John was the conscience of Congress, and an inspiration and mentor to me, and to countless colleagues. When it came to taking on the tough fights, we all looked to John for guidance and wisdom. I am honored to have been able to learn from him and honored to have fought alongside him in Congress -- including working together to develop ideas that would eventually make up the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act. I can scarcely begin to imagine the House of Representatives without our moral center, but we owe it to John and to all Americans to keep up the fight. “We cannot rest.” “We cannot become weary.” “We must keep pushing and pulling and find a way to get in the way.” These are words John said in life, but now console me in his death. Together, John, we must continue Mr. Lewis's work of bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice. It’s up to us now. Your friend, Hank  |
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