John Lewis

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John Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights leader who served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Early Life and Education

John Robert Lewis was born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama. He was the son of sharecroppers and grew up on his family's farm. Lewis attended segregated public schools in Pike County, Alabama. He was inspired by the activism surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement.

Lewis attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, and later graduated from Fisk University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy.

Civil Rights Movement

John Lewis was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He was one of the original 13 Freedom Riders, who challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals across the South in 1961. Lewis was also the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1963 to 1966.

He played a pivotal role in the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he was the youngest speaker. Lewis is perhaps best known for leading the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, a day that became known as "Bloody Sunday." During the march, Lewis and other marchers were brutally attacked by state troopers, an event that helped galvanize support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Political Career

In 1986, John Lewis was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district. He was re-elected 16 times, serving from January 3, 1987, until his death on July 17, 2020. During his tenure, Lewis was known for his advocacy on behalf of human rights, civil liberties, and health care reform.

Lewis was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and served as the Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Party.

Legacy and Honors

John Lewis received numerous awards and honors throughout his life, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was awarded to him by President Barack Obama in 2011. He was also the recipient of the NAACP's Spingarn Medal and the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize.

Death

John Lewis passed away on July 17, 2020, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was widely mourned, and he was honored with a lying in state at the United States Capitol.

Related Pages

• Civil Rights Movement
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
• March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
• Edmund Pettus Bridge
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Georgia's 5th congressional district
• Democratic Party (United States)

External Links

John Lewis at Find a Grave

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|style="width:30%;" rowspan="1"|Preceded by

Wyche Fowler

| style="width: 40%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1"| Member of the [[List of United States representatives from {{{state}}}|U.S. House of Representatives]]
from [[{{{state}}}'s congressional district]]
1987–2020

| style="width: 30%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1"|

Succeeded by

Kwanza Hall

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