Happy 79th birthday to one of the greatest living Americans, Mr. John Lewis. Perhaps no living American has done more for this country than him.
He was the President of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an organization dedicated to pursuing civil rights through peaceful protest. He went door to door, explaining to people their rights and registering voters.
In 1961, he was one of the original freedom riders. He was pulled off the bus in South Carolina and beaten. He got back on and kept going. He was again pulled off the bus again in Birmingham, Alabama. He was beaten with a metal pipe, by a police officer.
Photo Credit: A.P.
In 1963, at age 23 he spoke before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington.
Photo Credit: A.P.
In 1965, he led a march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital in Montgomery to push for African Americans to have equal voting rights in the state. The protestors were warned they would be beaten if they crossed the bridge. With Mr. Lewis out in front, they did it anyway. John Lewis was beaten by a state trooper with a billy club. He fractured his skull.
Photo Credit: Newsweek
His response?
He went back to the bridge to lead the march again.
In 2016, the Smithsonian opened the National Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Congressman Lewis was on stage with the Obamas and Bushes while First Lady Obama and President Bush shared their famous embrace.
John Lewis next to the Obamas and Bushes at the opening at the National Museum of
African American History and Culture
Photo Credit: David Kennerly
For the last thirty years, Mr. Lewis has represented the state of Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In January of 2017, The President tweeted that John Lewis was : “All talk, talk, talk…..no action or results”
Actually, very few, if any people in American history have taken more action and given more of themselves to make America great than John Lewis.
Happy birthday Mr Lewis, and thank you for giving so much of yourself to make the rest of our lives better.
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