John Lewis was one of my heroes. In 1965, he led the first of three marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge on what became known as: “Bloody Sunday.” He was beaten and nearly killed marching for equal rights and the right of blacks to VOTE.
In the 60s, he participated in the Nashville “Sit Ins" and the "Freedom Riders” bus trips into the segregated South.
He was Chairman of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and helped organize the “March on Washington" in 1963 where Dr. King made his historic, “I Have a Dream" speech.
His efforts to end legal segregation in the United States were pivotal in advancing the rights of blacks to vote
February is now “Black History Month" in America. Lewis’ efforts helped bring about important changes in the segregated South. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1987 in the 5th district of Georgia where he served until his death in 2020.
If you're looking for someone who risked EVERYTHING in pursuit of freedom and civil rights during this: Black History Month, look no farther than John Lewis.
NEVER forget his message: “MAKE GOOD TROUBLE!"
We NEED another John Lewis today.
We need strong, fearless LEADERS because the fight against the KKK and Nazis in today's Republican party that want to take us back to “the good old days" of jim Crow in the 40s and 50s.
This administration has given those racists and Nazis permission to come out from under the rocks where they've hidden for decades. They now march among us because of pardons.
This corrupt Supreme Court of people who perjured themselves during confirmation hearings, have neutered the "Voting Rights Act.” They've taken established "rights” from American women. They've given blanket immunity to a convicted FELON which allowed him to stay out of prison.
I still believe there are more of "US” than “THEM." Join me in this “GOOD TROUBLE." Stand up! Fight! Write! Speak truth to power. But, most importantly, VOTE!
Rid our country of these spineless Republicans in Congress who kneel to this FAUX King. Help stop President Elon (Nazi salute) Musk and his orange pet from destroying this nation's government.
Replace maga with MAAA. (Make America America Again! Turn on the light of freedom again. Welcome the world's desperate, fearful masses who seek safety here.
Make the plaque on the Statue of Liberty valid again:
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
And make the words of the famous poem true again:
“Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,”
Let's ALL scream into this hurricane of EVIL until everyone in the world hears US.
Like you , John Lewis is one of my heroes. It pained me that he died without seeing his Voting Rights bill passed; it’s at the top of my to do list for the next Democrat controlled Congress. My “hobby” is politics and political campaigns. This enabled me to meet Scions of the civil rights movement, including John Lewis, Andrew Young, Julian Bond and Rev Hosea Williams. (Rev Williams was a character and my family participated in his notable feed the hungry holiday meals, cooking, serving etc) These were momentary encounters at fund raisers, social events and softball games. It was a dazzling and humbling experience for me. These great men taking time to talk with a small business working suburban soccer and cookie mom who just wanted a good life for ALL CHILDREN influenced my life forever. Good trouble indeed! Midterm elections here we come!
Oh how I long for heroes like John Lewis again! I grew up in DC and was involved in politics beginning as a teenager during Vietnam. I have always loved activism and heroism from great leaders like MLK and Shirley Chisholm. My favorite will always be the soft spoken yet outspoken John Lewis! I share your “hobby” of politics, Valerie. I appreciate you sharing this piece on the indomitable John Lewis, Chuck.