America is a constant work in progress. What gives each new generation purpose is to take up the unfinished work of the last and carry it further — to speak out for what’s right, to challenge an unjust status quo, and to imagine a better world.

John Lewis — one of the original Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the youngest speaker at the March on Washington, leader of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Member of Congress representing the people of Georgia for 33 years — not only assumed that responsibility, he made it his life’s work. He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise. And through the decades, he not only gave all of himself to the cause of freedom and justice, but inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example.

Considering his enormous impact on the history of this country, what always struck those who met John was his gentleness and humility. Born into modest means in the heart of the Jim Crow South, he understood that he was just one of a long line of heroes in the struggle for racial justice. Early on, he embraced the principles of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as the means to bring about real change in this country, understanding that such tactics had the power not only to change laws, but to change hearts and minds as well.

In so many ways, John’s life was exceptional. But he never believed that what he did was more than any citizen of this country might do. He believed that in all of us, there exists the capacity for great courage, a longing to do what’s right, a willingness to love all people, and to extend to them their God-given rights to dignity and respect. And it’s because he saw the best in all of us that he will continue, even in his passing, to serve as a beacon in that long journey towards a more perfect union.

I first met John when I was in law school, and I told him then that he was one of my heroes. Years later, when I was elected a U.S. Senator, I told him that I stood on his shoulders. When I was elected President of the United States, I hugged him on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I was only there because of the sacrifices he made. And through all those years, he never stopped providing wisdom and encouragement to me and Michelle and our family. We will miss him dearly.

It’s fitting that the last time John and I shared a public forum was at a virtual town hall with a gathering of young activists who were helping to lead this summer’s demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Afterwards, I spoke to him privately, and he could not have been prouder of their efforts — of a new generation standing up for freedom and equality, a new generation intent on voting and protecting the right to vote, a new generation running for political office. I told him that all those young people — of every race, from every background and gender and sexual orientation — they were his children. They had learned from his example, even if they didn’t know it. They had understood through him what American citizenship requires, even if they had heard of his courage only through history books.

Not many of us get to live to see our own legacy play out in such a meaningful, remarkable way. John Lewis did. And thanks to him, we now all have our marching orders — to keep believing in the possibility of remaking this country we love until it lives up to its full promise.

-Barack Obama
44th President of the United States

We are made in the image of God, and then there is John Lewis.

How could someone in flesh and blood be so courageous, so full of hope and love in the face of so much hate, violence, and vengeance? Perhaps it was the Spirit that found John as a young boy in the Deep South dreaming of preaching the social gospel; the work ethic his sharecropper parents instilled in him and that stayed with him; the convictions of nonviolent civil disobedience he mastered from Dr. King and countless fearless leaders in the movement; or the abiding connection with the constituents of Georgia’s 5th District he loyally served for decades.
Or perhaps it was that he was truly a one-of-a-kind, a moral compass who always knew where to point us and which direction to march.

It is rare to meet and befriend our heroes. John was that hero for so many people of every race and station, including us. He absorbed the force of human nature’s cruelty during the course of his life, and the only thing that could finally stop him was cancer. But he was not bitter. We spoke to him a few days ago for the final time. His voice still commanded respect and his laugh was still full of joy. Instead of answering our concerns for him, he asked about us. He asked us to stay focused on the work left undone to heal this nation. He was himself — a man at peace, of dignity, grace and character.

John’s life reminds us that the most powerful symbol of what it means to be an American is what we do with the time we have to make real the promise of our nation — that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally. Through the beatings, the marches, the arrests, the debates on war, peace, and freedom, and the legislative fights for good jobs and health care and the fundamental right to vote, he taught us that while the journey toward equality is not easy, we must be unafraid and never cower and never, ever give up.

That is the charge a great American and humble man of God has left us. For parents trying to answer their children’s questions about what to make of the world we are in today, teach them about John Lewis. For the peaceful marchers for racial and economic justice around the world who are asking where we go from here, follow his lead. For his fellow legislators, govern by your conscience like he did, not for power or party. He was our bridge — to our history so we did not forget its pain and to our future so we never lose our hope.

To John’s son, John Miles, and to his family, friends, staff, and constituents, we send you our love and prayers. Thank you for sharing him with the nation and the world.

And to John, march on, dear friend. May God bless you. May you reunite with your beloved Lillian. And may you continue to inspire righteous good trouble down from the Heavens.

-Joe & Jill Biden
Former Vice President & Second Lady of the United States

Rosalynn and I are saddened by the death of Congressman John Lewis. He made an indelible mark on history through his quest to make our nation more just. John never shied away from what he called “good trouble” to lead our nation on the path toward human and civil rights. Everything he did, he did in a spirit of love. All Americans, regardless of race or religion, owe John Lewis a debt of gratitude. We send our condolences and prayers to his family and friends.

-Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States

“Laura and I join our fellow Americans in mourning the loss of Congressman John Lewis. As a young man marching for equality in Selma, Alabama, John answered brutal violence with courageous hope. And throughout his career as a civil rights leader and public servant, he worked to make our country a more perfect union. America can best honor John’s memory by continuing his journey toward liberty and justice for all.”

-George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States

We have lost a giant. John Lewis gave all he had to redeem America’s unmet promise of equality and justice for all, and to create a place for us to build a more perfect union together.

From a small farm in Alabama, to life-risking service in the civil rights movement, to three decades in Congress, he was always “walking with the wind,” steered by a moral compass that told him when to make good trouble and when to heal troubled waters. Always true to his word, his faith, and his principles, John Lewis became the conscience of the nation.

Hillary and I loved John. We were blessed by his friendship, support, and wise counsel. We’ll miss him so much, but we’ll always be grateful to God for his long good life, and grateful that he lived to see a new generation of Americans take to the streets in search of his long sought “beloved community.”

Our hearts go out to his son John-Miles and the entire Lewis family, his able loyal staff, and all who loved and admired him the world over.

-Bill & Hillary Clinton
42nd President of the United States & Former Secretary of State

Saddened to hear the news of civil rights hero John Lewis passing. Melania and I send our prayers to he and his family.

-Donald J. Trump
45th President of the United States

Congressman John Lewis was a great man whose courage and decades of public service changed America forever, and he will be deeply missed. John Lewis will be remembered as a giant of the civil rights movement whose selflessness and conviction rendered our nation into a more perfect union and his example will inspire generations of Americans.

While John Lewis will be rightly remembered as an icon of the civil rights movement, for me he was also a colleague and a friend. Even when we differed, John was always unfailingly kind and my family and I will never forget the privilege of crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge at his side on the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Karen and I and send our prayers and deepest sympathies to his family and friends and all who mourn the passing of this good and great man. May God bless the memory of John Lewis and may his example ever inspire.

-Mike Pence
Vice President of the United States

“Today, America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of American history: Congressman John Lewis, the Conscience of the Congress.

“John Lewis was a titan of the civil rights movement whose goodness, faith and bravery transformed our nation – from the determination with which he met discrimination at lunch counters and on Freedom Rides, to the courage he showed as a young man facing down violence and death on Edmund Pettus Bridge, to the moral leadership he brought to the Congress for more than 30 years.

“In the halls of the Capitol, he was fearless in his pursuit of a more perfect union, whether through his Voter Empowerment Act to defend the ballot, his leadership on the Equality Act to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans or his work as a Senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee to ensure that we invest in what we value as a nation.

“Every day of John Lewis’s life was dedicated to bringing freedom and justice to all. As he declared 57 years ago during the March on Washington, standing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial: ‘Our minds, souls, and hearts cannot rest until freedom and justice exist for all the people.’ How fitting it is that even in the last weeks of his battle with cancer, John summoned the strength to visit the peaceful protests where the newest generation of Americans had poured into the streets to take up the unfinished work of racial justice. His visit with Mayor Bowser, the Mayor of Washington, painted an iconic picture of justice.

“In the Congress, John Lewis was revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol. All of us were humbled to call Congressman Lewis a colleague, and are heartbroken by his passing. May his memory be an inspiration that moves us all to, in the face of injustice, make ‘good trouble, necessary trouble.’

“God truly blessed America with the life and leadership of John Lewis. May it be a comfort to his son John-Miles, his entire family, Michael Collins and his entire staff that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.”

-Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

“Our country has lost one of its most beloved Civil Rights leaders. I join my fellow Alabamians & the nation in mourning the death of Rep. John Lewis. He dedicated his life to serving his community & advocating for others. We’ll forever remember his heroism & his enduring legacy.”

“At the request of President Trump, I am directing flags be flown at half-staff immediately to honor U.S. Congressman John Lewis, who passed away on Friday, July 17, 2020.

Let us remember the life and longstanding public service of Rep. Lewis. As a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, he is a proud son of Alabama. He dedicated his life to serving his community and advocating for others, during some of the most difficult times in our nation’s history. I join my fellow Alabamians and the nation in mourning the death of Congressman Lewis. I offer my heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family, his constituents in Georgia, and all who had the pleasure of calling him a friend. We will forever remember his heroism and his enduring legacy.

The flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on July 18, 2020.”

-Kay Ivey
Governor of Alabama

“There are no words to describe the tremendous loss that Americans, Atlantans, and I personally feel upon learning of the passing of Congressman John Lewis,” said Mayor Bottoms. “America knew him as a Civil Rights Icon, Congressional Giant, and a moral compass, but I knew him as a friend. The people of Atlanta often called upon Congressman Lewis for counsel, guidance, and assistance with getting into good trouble. No matter how busy his schedule, or important his Washington duties were, he answered. We were privileged to be represented by a leader with both a pure heart and an unshakable commitment to human rights. As we persevere in the modern fight for social justice, we should honor his legacy by continuing to hold on to hope. I pray for his family, his constituents, and all who loved and were impacted by the life of Congressman John Lewis.”

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff immediately on all City of Atlanta facilities until further notice in honor of the late Congressman.

The City of Atlanta’s Congressman Lewis is an American hero and one of the pillars of the Civil Rights Movement. Congressman Lewis was also revered as the dean of the Georgia Congressional delegation whose passionate call to “make good trouble” became a generational rallying cry for nonviolent activism in the pursuit of social justice and human rights.

From his early days as a student activist, an original Freedom Rider, and a founder and leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, John Lewis became a symbol of perseverance and strength even as he endured physical violence and imprisonment. The sit-ins that he organized at segregated lunch counters and peaceful protests that he led, marching across the South, including “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, became a beckon of hope in the pursuit of equal rights.

As one of the Civil Rights Movement’s “Original Six,” this son of an Alabama sharecropper, at age 23, was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. During that speech, he implored government leaders to wake up to the evils of segregation, closing with words that still resonate today: “We must say, ‘Wake up, America! Wake Up! For we cannot stop and we will not and cannot be patient.”

-Keisha Lance-Bottoms
Mayor of Atlanta

The John Lewis I knew

For 12 years I sat next to John on the W&M committee.  He was not interested in making a name for himself by the legislation he wrote. Rather he was interested in doing what was best for people.  We often talked about the effects that various pieces of legislation had on ordinary people. This was the guiding principle of his vote on all legislation.

He came to the hearings prepared with his remarks and questions and since he followed me in the order of speaking, he would often say that he liked the direction I had taken in my five minutes of speech and questioning. He was selfless, in that he could give credit to others and did not seek to dominate the issue.  He simply wanted to stand up for the right principle, no matter the impact on him.

He had big companies in his city like Coke Cola and CNN, but he was always interested in how the law would impact the workers who he represented.  He would not pander to anyone. I had plenty of time at his elbow to watch him deal with people. He was polite to all of them, whether they were press or lobbyists or constituents. He always took time to talk to and shake hands with kids.  He drove his staff crazy because it always took so long for him to move.

What you saw as his image was what he really was.  I can’t remember a single time in my time on the committee with him when he showed another side to himself. The chairman, Danny Rostenkowski who was the consummate old-time pol from Chicago wanted him on the committee.  Danny was never sure how John might vote but he trusted him.

John came to Seattle to help my campaigns on several occasions. Most memorable was his trip to do a fundraiser for me.  In advance I had given him a book entitled “Not on American Soil” which was a book written about  one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice to soldiers going to fight in a war for their country. It happened at Fort Lawton in Seattle.  There were Italian prisoners of war housed next to the barracks of a company of Black stevedores headed to Iwo Jima the next day.  Drinking and fight occurred. In the morning an Italian was found hanged in a tree nearby.

The US government wanted to sweep this under the rug as quickly as possible. Leon Jaworski of later Watergate fame and the Nuremburg trials, was sent to do the investigation and trial.  With little evidence or witnesses and one defense counsel for 20 men, all were convicted of some part in the “Lynching”.  All received bad conduct discharges that followed them all their lives.  Several were sent to Leavenworth.

John helped me get the Army to reverse, posthumously, the BCD’s. When he came, he wanted to see the place where all this occurred.  I’ll never forget walking through the area at Fort Lawton.  No one was too small or forgotten for John to stop and remember others who had suffered.

He met with a nine-year old black boy who came to testify to the Congress about the need for health care for his caregiver and grandmother.  They were from my district. No votes there.

Humanity and love for all without respect for politics emanated from him at all times. If he were here, he would deny it, but he is as close to a saint as I have ever been. He walked in Christ’s footsteps every step he took.

He always did!!!

-Jim McDermott
Former U.S. Congressman

“There is a hole in the heart of America today. We, and the world, have lost a paragon of faith: in God, in his country, and in humankind – we were all his brothers and sisters. God is welcoming home one of his greatest disciples of love, and peace, and forgiveness, and reconciliation, and of hope, and of unlimited courage born of conviction and faith.

“America has lost a towering moral figure, and I have lost a dear friend.  John Lewis lived his life with purpose and in service to others, as close to a Christ-like figure as I have ever known.  He was a beloved colleague and legislator, a trusted representative to his constituents in Georgia, and a man of integrity and good nature who strove to instill those qualities in others.  I cannot properly express the profound sadness and grief of this moment in learning that he no longer marches alongside us.  Now, he has joined his beloved wife Lillian, and my thoughts today are with their son John-Miles, the entire Lewis family, and his beloved and long-serving right-hand man, Michael Collins.

“As a young man, John saw injustice and chose to risk his life to fight it.  Alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and spoke out against inequality, racism, and poverty.  He organized his fellow students in Freedom Rides to register voters and bring hope and solidarity to African-American communities living under Jim Crow.

“In Selma, John ‘walked with the wind’ and nearly lost his life on ‘Bloody Sunday’ in order to help secure passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  I have walked hand-in-hand with John over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to commemorate that day.  It will never be the same experience without him leading us with the solemnity and joyfulness of a prophet.

“In Congress, I have watched him over our thirty-three years together as colleagues become a master of the House, a deft legislator who worked to secure the victories of the Civil Rights Movement by strengthening the laws passed in the 1960’s and 1970’s and building on them today.  John was a champion of a progressive vision for our country, working hard to secure policies that lift Americans out of poverty, prevent deadly gun violence, ensure access to affordable health care for all, enable more Americans to reach for opportunities, and leave our children and grandchildren a healthier planet.  I will never forget working closely with John to oppose the genocide in Darfur and to promote peace in Sudan and South Sudan.  John fought for peace at home and around the world throughout his life.

“In his later years, John served as a bridge to the Civil Rights Movement for millions of young Americans who were not alive during that time.  Those who march for racial justice and to forge a more perfect union in the twenty-first century have looked to John Lewis for leadership and inspiration.  While too many of his brothers and sisters who led the Civil Rights Movement did not live to see the election of America’s first African-American president, John walked arm-in-arm with President Obama at the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma march in 2015.  While Dr. King did not, as he had prophesied, make it to the Promised Land, John Lewis made it over that mountaintop to help lead our people farther on.  Now, at peace and with the God in whom he always kept faith, John beckons us from our horizon’s next mountaintop, giving us hope and strength.  John, we will keep our eye on the prize of a more beloved community and with your inspiration, ‘march on until victory is won.”

–Steny H. Hoyer
U.S. House Majority Leader

The country lost a hero last night. The movement lost an icon. And I lost a personal friend. But I do believe that as the sun set on John Lewis’s life last night, the sun rises on a movement that will never die. Thank you, John, rest in peace my brother.

-James E. Clyburn
U.S. House Majority Whip

“John Lewis was an extraordinary man. He suffered for this nation, enduring what would have easily broken other men, so that future generations could enjoy the full blessings of freedom. Racism, segregation, and discrimination were not history for him; they were everyday life. But John wasn’t just a patriot on sunny days. His patriotism urged him forward to fight for America with nonviolence and defend it with peacefulness. We are a better nation because of John Lewis.

“I got to know John when we traveled together to Selma to cross the bridge and commemorate his famous march. I saw firsthand that he was a great leader and a committed teacher who believed in civic education and led by example. Fittingly, John’s final act of public service was also about civic education: he and I sent a letter yesterday urging more money to be spent on civics courses in elementary, middle, and high schools. Even on the last day of his life, John never stopped working to improve the lives of others.

“It was a true privilege to call John a friend. I admired him and will miss him. His life and legacy of patriotism will endure for as long as America does. Judy and I are praying for John’s family.”

-Kevin McCarthy
U.S. House Minority Leader

“John Lewis was a legend who helped pave the way for so many of the victories achieved throughout the civil rights movement. As accomplished and revered as he was, he never stopped working to advance the cause of equality and justice for all, even in his final days as he was battling for his own life. I was proud to call John Lewis a friend, and he will be deeply missed. America is a more perfect union because of the blood, sweat, and tears sacrificed by the great John Lewis.”

-Steve Scalise
U.S. House Minority Whip

“On Friday, the nation lost a monumental figure. Someone who made huge personal sacrifices to help our nation move past the sin of racism and align more with the principles of our founding.

“John Lewis had secured his place among the giants of American history before his career in Congress had even begun.

“From a sharecropper’s farm with no electricity or running water, John Lewis rose to share the stage with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a founding leader of the mid-century Civil Rights movement. His unwavering example of nonviolent resistance became a powerful rallying cry, swelling the ranks of marches and sit-ins and commanding the attention of the nation.

“As a young student, John demonstrated wisdom beyond his years and unimaginable patience and dignity in the face of harassment and brutal assaults from the champions of segregation. From boycotts and sit-ins to Bloody Sunday in Selma, he suffered, and suffered, and suffered.

“But he kept working. He was unshaken in the belief that our nation could be better. And he was willing to pay for that progress with his own blood.

“The cause of justice called John Lewis to the vanguard. From organizing the lunch counter sit-ins that made Nashville the first southern city to begin desegregating public places. To leading the first historic Freedom Riders across the South. To chairing the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee that helped mobilize a generation. To addressing the March on Washington from the Lincoln Memorial.

“By the time he turned 25, John had already lent his voice and his body to a full lifetime’s work.

“But he wasn’t done yet. That same spirit of urgency followed him here to Washington.

“Whether the day’s issues found you on his side of a policy debate or on the opposite side, his warmth, friendliness, and dedication to his neighbors in Georgia’s Fifth District made an impact on everyone.

“I’m reminded particularly of joining hands with him at a ceremony here in the Capitol honoring his friend, Dr. King in 2008. As members of Congress sang “We Shall Overcome”, it was humbling to reflect on what the man standing next to me had suffered and sacrificed so that those words could be sung… at such an occasion… in that place.

“The memory of our colleague brings to mind Dr. King’s own words. He famously said, quote, “the arc of the moral universe is long, and it bends toward justice.”

“It would be a mistake to read these words and assume that he meant this bending is inevitable. Our society has only marched toward justice because great figures like Congressman John Lewis took it upon themselves to lead the way.

“So the nation mourns his passing, and we celebrate the life of this American hero.”

-Mitch McConnell
U.S. Senate Majority Leader

-Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senate Minority Leader

-Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia

-Kelly Loeffler
U.S. Senator

-David Perdue
U.S. Senator

-Atlanta City Council

-Stacey Abrams
Former GA House Democratic Leader

-Newt Gingrich
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Rest. In. Paradise John Lewis. #CivilRightsICON✊🏾 THANK YOU!! 🙏🏾

-LeBron James

I had a final chance to tell him what I’ve said every time I’ve been in his presence: “Thank you for your courage leading the fight for Freedom. My life as it is would not have been possible without you.”

-Oprah Winfrey

Thank you my brother. Thank you! 🙏🏿 Rest easy John Lewis.

-Rihanna

Rep. John Lewis was a light that will keep on shining bright for humanity throughout eternity.

-Kareem Abdul Jabar

My friend, role model, and activist extraordinaire has passed. Congressman John Lewis taught us how to be an activist. He changed the world without hate, rancor or arrogance. A rare and great man. Rest in Power and may God finally give you peace.

-Rev. Al Sharpton

-Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

What A Day… now, John Lewis. Sometimes it’s Good to meet a Hero… I was blessed every time we met. RI POWER, Sir.#thestrugglecontinues#BLM#VOTE

-Samuel L. Jackson

As a leader of SNCC, Representative Lewis was one of the youngest on the frontline for key moments of the Civil Rights movement like the March on Washington, March in Selma, and was an original freedom rider.

John Lewis dedicated his life to advancing our community and fought tirelessly for justice and equal treatment. It is because of his unwillingness to back down to discrimination and injustice that we have gotten this far.

-Earvin Magic Johnson

Thank you for your care and kindness, your advice and understanding. Will never forget what you taught me and what you challenged me to be. Better. Stronger. Bolder. Braver. God bless you, Ancestor John Robert Lewis of Troy, Alabama. Run into His arms.

-Ava DuVernay

-Hank Aaron

John Lewis was an American treasure. He gave a voice to the voiceless, and he reminded each of us that the most powerful nonviolent tool is the vote. Our hearts feel empty without our friend, but we find comfort knowing that he is free at last.

-Martin Luther King III

When I visited Uncle John last week, I looked in his eyes and said, “Well done.” I told him that I loved him and that we are going to continue to fight. So I must mourn and move at the same time.

-Rev. Bernice King

NEW YORK — In response to the passing of Rep. John Lewis, American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony D. Romero issued the following statement:

“The death of John Lewis at this moment of national reckoning on race leaves us without a key protagonist for the third Reconstruction that must begin in November. We have lost a great legislator, activist, and ally. Rep. John Lewis’ activism, his inclusive vision of civil rights, and his clarion voice have left indelible marks on millions of people and countless movements. He called to the better angels in all of us to cause ‘good trouble’ so that America’s promises of justice and equality would apply to everyone in America — communities of color, immigrants, LGBTQ people.

“As we mourn the loss of a true hero and patriot, we also re-commit to building the future John Lewis knew we could create: one in which ‘We the People’ truly means all of us. He taught us about the America worth fighting for, and we will keep fighting for it. He was a dear friend, ally and confidant to many civil rights leaders, legislators — even U.S. Presidents — of conscience. But his biggest contribution was to the millions of people who struggle against injustice and poverty — and while they may never have met him, they never had a better friend.”

-ACLU

-Atlanta Braves

ATLANTA –- The Atlanta Hawks released the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Lewis:

“The Atlanta Hawks mourn the loss of Congressman John Lewis. Last night, our city and country lost one of its heroes and most important civil rights icons who was highly regarded for his nearly six decades of social activism and getting into ‘good trouble’. He continued to inspire so many with his courage, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles. His legacy will forever be remembered throughout the city’s peaceful protests to fight racial inequality in the 1960s, and our nation will be forever indebted to him for his lifelong dedication to public service. The entire Hawks organization sends their deepest condolences to Mr. Lewis’ family and his friends.”

-Atlanta Hawks

“At the passing of a true American icon, I join his family, the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and our country in mourning the loss of my dear friend Congressman John Lewis. Freedom fighter are words that were rightly associated with John all his life. It was one of the great honors of my life to be standing at John’s side in 2011 when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his decades of service as a Congressman representing our city and for his heroic courage as one of the 13 original Freedom Riders during the most turbulent years of the civil rights movement. John wore the scars of a brutal 1965 beating he received while leading the history-changing ‘Bloody Sunday’ march in Selma – to those honored to know him, it was always a reminder that freedom isn’t free. John risked his life to end legalized racial segregation and make America a better place for us and future generations. Throughout his 33 years representing Atlanta in Congress, he served as the conscience of that body, reminding us all that democracy is a daily struggle. That’s the enduring legacy of one of the most courageous people I ever met. May he rest well and at peace after such a meaningful, purpose-filled life.”

-Arthur M. Blank (Owner, Atlanta Falcons)

DNC Chair Tom Perez and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins released the following statement after the passing of U.S. Congressman and legendary civil rights leader John Lewis:

John Lewis is everything we aspire to be as people, as leaders, and as a party. He taught us how to dream, how to work, how to sacrifice, and of course, how to make good trouble. He modeled a profound humility and a limitless ability to forgive in the face of even the most heinous acts. His zeal for justice was only matched by his capacity for compassion. The last living speaker from the March on Washington, he provided a bridge from how far we’ve come and a road map to where we still need to be.

From beatings in Rock Hill to bloodshed in Selma, John Lewis risked his life to bring America closer to its founding ideals. He sat in for justice and stood up for equality, he marched for jobs and rode for freedom. And for three decades, he continued to wage the battle for civil rights in Congress – fighting to expand health care, reduce gun violence, and protect the sacred right to vote.

While many espouse the virtues of justice or a fidelity to true equality, it is the rare leader who inspires them in millions. John Lewis was one of those leaders. That crisp Sunday morning when he set foot on the Edmund Pettus bridge he knew what lay ahead. He understood that racism’s fists and segregation’s billy clubs would very well beat him to within an inch of his life, and if he survived he would likely wake up in a jail cell. But he stepped forward anyway, knowing full well the carnage that awaited him. He sacrificed himself so his country he loved so dearly could one day be worthy of such an act. The words of our constitution may have been written by revolutionists in 1776 but they were given meaning by a revolutionary in 1965.

In a moment where we have been driven apart, in a nation that feels as divided as it has ever been, let us allow John Lewis to bring us together one more time. Allow his memory to continue to lead us toward that more perfect union. His legacy reminds us that we are truly one nation, but it also demands that we continue to work toward completing our unfinished business, his unfinished business: Justice.

-Democratic National Committee

HRC responded to the tragic news that U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) has passed away at the age of 80.

“Congressman John Lewis is a hero and civil rights icon who pushed our country closer to the promise of a more perfect union,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Future generations will learn how he faced down discrimination with courage and defiance, boldly challenging the United States to envision a future where every person, no matter their race, sexual orientation or gender identity, has an equal chance at the American Dream. His legacy will live on in the work we do every day to further his mission and continue to get into ‘good trouble’ in the name of equality and justice. We join the nation in mourning the loss of this giant, and share our deepest condolences with Congressman Lewis’ family and loved ones.”

In addition to his decades of service to the American people as a civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman, Congressman Lewis has been a long time, outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality.Speaking at HRC’s 2016 National Dinner, he said of the LGBTQ community: “You and I are partners. We are part of an ongoing struggle to redeem the soul of America, to help people in this country and around the world come to grips with one simple truth: we are one people. We are one family. We are the human family.”

Congressman Lewis worked closely with Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) during the drafting of the Equality Act and was a lead sponsor of the legislation — a bipartisan bill which would finally add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation’s civil rights laws. He has a perfect 100 rating on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard and, among other things, was also the lead sponsor of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would prohibit federally funded child welfare service providers from discriminating against children, families and individuals based on religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status.

-Human Rights Campaign

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Lewis, a past recipient of the civil and human rights coalition’s highest honor, the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award:

“It is not enough to say that John Lewis devoted his life to public service, because he did so much more than that. John Lewis made his life a living testimony to this nation’s highest ideals and morals. Though he began this work at such a young age, he never left the battlefield for justice, equality, and morality. The civil and human rights community joins the nation in mourning the loss of this American hero.

“John Lewis was never satisfied with an America that did not keep faith with its promises. He refused to accept a country that did not live up to its highest moral values. And he rejected the idea that America could not be better — particularly toward those so often left behind in our society. His life was a living vigil for what it means to remain a steady soldier in the march for equality. Whether in the area of voting rights or systemic racism, or anywhere in which injustice remains, we honor his legacy by continuing his fight for a democracy that works for all of us.

“John Lewis leaves behind a legacy that transcends what he did on the bridge that Bloody Sunday. His legacy is a challenge to all of us who claim to love freedom. His challenge compels us to hold this nation and ourselves accountable for how we treat each other. It defies us to make America keep its promise of opportunity and fairness to everyone. And finally, his legacy dares us to make ‘good trouble’ in the pursuit of liberty and justice for all.”

-The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The NAACP mourns the passing of Congressman John Lewis, a resounding civil rights giant. He fought harder and longer than anyone in our nation’s continuing battle for civil rights and equal justice.

Often called “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” John Lewis dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. By 1963, Lewis was dubbed one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. At the age of 23, he was an architect and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.

Along with Hosea Williams, John Lewis led over 600 peaceful, orderly protestors across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965.  They intended to march from Selma to Montgomery to demonstrate the need for voting rights in the state. Despite more than 40 arrests, physical attacks, and serious injuries, John Lewis remained a devoted advocate of nonviolent philosophy.

John Lewis went on to become a United States Congressman and has served as U.S. Representative of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District since 1986. Lewis was a member of the influential House Budget Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, where he served on the Subcommittee on Health until his death. Congressman Lewis served as Senior Chief Deputy Democratic Whip and sat in a direct line of succession to the number two Democratic leadership position in the House. John Lewis is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. He received the NAACP Spingarn Medal in 2002 and the NAACP Chairman’s Award in 2020.

If we know anything about our dear friend John Lewis, he wanted us to continue the battle for full participation in a democracy that he began long ago with other civil rights icons. On November 3, we can and must honor our beloved John Lewis by casting our ballot and ensuring that our vote is counted, up and down the ballot.

John Lewis was a national treasure and a civil rights hero for the ages. We are deeply saddened by his passing but profoundly grateful for his immense contributions to justice. He used every waking moment of his 80 years to push this country toward more representative democracy and left behind a remarkable model. It is up to us to pick up his mantle and carry on, and we urge the entire nation to join us. As people of all colors are in the streets seeking racial justice, we urge all that can to speak louder and stay a little longer to honor the best warrior for democracy our nation has ever known.

The NAACP extends our sincerest condolences to the family of Congressman Lewis and sends prayers of comfort and strength now and always.

-NAACP

“The NBA Family mourns the passing of Rep. John Lewis, a great American hero and icon of the civil rights movement and the fight for equality who helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation and social injustice,” the league said.

From organizing protests during the Civil Rights Movement to introducing bills in Congress, Lewis spent his life fighting against racism and injustice. He often encouraged people to “speak up and speak out” and get into “good trouble” as a way to move closer towards freedom.

Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders and a chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). On a day known as “Bloody Sunday,” Lewis and hundreds of marchers were brutally attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge while protesting for the right of black people to register and vote.

In Congress, Lewis introduced a bill that called for a massive black history museum in Washington, D.C. After years of perseverance, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016.

Lewis was a giant in the city of Atlanta, along with civil rights leader and author C.T. Vivian, who also passed away Friday. In a statement, the Atlanta Hawks called Vivian “a distinguished icon whose leadership pushed the United States to greater justice and racial equality for African Americans” and that Lewis “will forever be remembered throughout the city’s peaceful protests to fight racial inequality in the 1960s.”

One of Lewis’ most famous quotes: “You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.”

NBA players and teams have followed those words by speaking up amid a Black Lives Matter movement that reached an increase in volume this year. Those around the league paid their respect and recognized Lewis as one of the pillars in the fight for justice.

-National Basketball Association

NEW YORK (July 17, 2020) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the passing of Congressman John Lewis:

“John Lewis is one of the great Americans of his generation. He walked side-by-side with civil rights legends, and stood toe-to-toe with presidents –  always serving as a moral compass pointing toward justice. At the age of 21 he chose to put himself in harm’s way as one of the original Freedom Riders, rolling into the angry and segregated South to shine a light on the injustice and brutality that wascommonplace. He was knocked unconscious at the Greyhound station in Montgomery; 40 years later he publicly forgave the former Klan supporter who led the attack. Alabama state troopers fractured his skull as he tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on Bloody Sunday.  The list of sacrifices and acts of heroism is endless. Always, he emerged steadfast, with his eyes, his heart and his moral certitude focused on creating a better America. We will miss his voice.

“John was also a personal hero, a friend and a mentor. In 2013, the National Urban League recognized him with our highest honor, the Civil Rights Champion Award. In his presence, I was reminded that I stand on the shoulders of history. That this icon reached back to pull the next generation of leaders like me to the front of the line was at once life-affirming and humbling.  He was always affable, always available, always fighting—until the very end.

“May he rest in power.”

-National Urban League

The Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement on the passing of House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman and Congressional Black Caucus Member, Congressman John R. Lewis (GA-05):

The world has lost a legend; the civil rights movement has lost an icon, the City of Atlanta has lost one of its most fearless leaders, and the Congressional Black Caucus has lost our longest serving member. The Congressional Black Caucus is known as the Conscience of the Congress. John Lewis was known as the conscience of our caucus. A fighter for justice until the end, Mr. Lewis recently visited Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington DC. His mere presence encouraged a new generation of activist to “speak up and speak out” and get into “good trouble” to continue bending the arc toward justice and freedom.

The City of Atlanta has lost one of its most fearless leaders. Congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting racism and injustice wherever he confronted it, from boycotts, sit-ins, and other protests in the streets, to championing bold, progressive policies in Congress. Mr. Lewis was born and raised in Troy, Alabama, a segregated town of the Deep South. At an early age, he was inspired by the non-violent activism of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This passion drove Mr. Lewis to dedicate himself and his life to the Civil Rights Movement.

As a student at Fisk University, Mr. Lewis was a part of the Nashville Student Movement and helped organize sit-ins that eventually led to the desegregation of the lunch counters in Downtown Nashville. In 1961, he became one of the 13 original Freedom Riders, an integrated group determined to ride from Washington, DC to New Orleans. In 1963, he became the Chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), an organization he helped form.

As Chair of SNCC, John Lewis was one of the “Big 6” leaders of the historical March on Washington on August, 28, 1963, and was the youngest speaker to address the hundreds of thousands marching for jobs and freedom that day.  He also played a key role in the marches from Selma to Montgomery, a campaign against the blatant voter suppression of Black citizens. He joined Hosea Williams and hundreds of civil rights marchers to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on “Bloody Sunday” and suffered a fractured skull that day for the right of Black people to register and vote.

For 34 years, Mr. Lewis served Georgia’s 5th district and our country with the same burning desire to ensure America’s promises were accessible to all. He never hesitated to tell the truth about this nation’s history and injustices. In his very first Congress, John Lewis introduced a bill to create an African American history museum in Washington, DC, but the bill was blocked by Senator Jesse Helms for 15 years. But Mr. Lewis persisted, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016 and is by far the most popular museum on the National Mall.

In 2012, John Lewis unveiled a marker in Emancipation Hall commemorating the contributions of enslaved Americans to the construction of the United States Capitol. The marker was the result of literally a decade of work by a special task force led by Mr. Lewis after a bill was found in the National Archives documenting payment for slaves to build the Capitol. Congressman Lewis commented at the unveiling:

“When I walk through Statuary Hall, it means a great deal to me to know that the unusual grey marble columns were likely hewn and polished by slaves in Maryland.  They quarried the stone in Maryland and sailed ships or barges many miles down the Potomac River weighed down by heavy marble columns to bring them to DC. Somehow, they carried them several miles through the streets perhaps using wagons and mules or horses, and then hoisted them up so they are standing as we see them today in the Capitol. The bronze statue sitting on top of the Capitol dome also involved the contribution of slaves.  These men and woman played a powerful role in our history and that must not be forgotten.”

Legislatively, Mr. Lewis championed the Voter Empowerment Act, which would modernize registration and voting in America and increase access to the ballot. He was also an ardent advocate for immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and affordable health care for all. As Chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Lewis helped ensure the efficient implementation of laws related to tax, trade, health, Human Resources, and Social Security. He examined how the tax code subsidizes hate groups and the public health impact of gun violence. Most recently, Mr. Lewis pressed the Trump Administration to quickly deliver the stimulus checks that Congress provided in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Lewis continued his practice of nonviolent protest, community organizing, and grassroots activism throughout his tenure in Congress. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Mr. Lewis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States of America. Following the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016, John Lewis led Democrats in a 26-hour sit-in on the House floor to demand that the body debate gun control measures. Every year, he led a pilgrimage to Selma to commemorate the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Even his recent health challenges could not keep him from commemorating the 55th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” this year.

Despite more than 40 arrests, brutal attacks, and physical injuries, Mr. Lewis remained devoted to the philosophy of nonviolence in his fight for justice and equality, even to this day, as America faces another reckoning with racism and hundreds of thousands around the world spark a modern-day civil rights movement against police brutality and racial injustice. He taught us to keep our eye on the prize, and that lesson is more crucial than ever. We will keep our eye on the prize of social justice, voting rights, quality education, affordable health care, and economic empowerment for every soul.

The entire Congressional Black Caucus extends our condolences to Mr. Lewis’ family, friends, staff, and the city of Atlanta.

-Congressional Black Caucus

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Civil rights icon John Lewis, whose life’s work to combat racial injustice began in the segregated South as a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and original group of 13 Freedom Riders before leading him to the halls of Congress as a longtime Georgia congressman, died late Friday. He was 80.

A friend of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Lewis was an organizer of the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery and was among the marchers attacked by Alabama State Troopers. Decades later, his commemoration of the march would often include leading a congressional delegation to the SPLC’s Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, which honors 40 martyrs of the civil rights movement.

SPLC President and Chief Executive Officer Margaret Huang issued the following statement:

“With extreme sorrow, the entire SPLC family mourns the passing of Congressman John Lewis. An Alabama native, he was a transformative figure. He was a hero, a man of extraordinary courage and a true American patriot.

“On May 4, 1961, the Freedom Riders boarded a bus in Washington, D.C., to travel through the Deep South after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which found segregation of interstate transportation, including bus terminals, unconstitutional. The future congressman was one of the brave Freedom Riders. When they arrived at Rock Hill, S.C., a few days later, 21-year-old Lewis was assaulted as he attempted to enter a whites-only waiting room. Before their ride ended, Lewis would be arrested in Birmingham and beaten in Montgomery, Alabama. His response to the assaults showed his strength of character and gave us a glimpse of the person he would become.

“Congressman Lewis was not only a valiant hero combatting Jim Crow, but he was also a leading figure in the movement for racial justice, pushing Congress and presidents to act with moral integrity against all forms of injustice. His dedication to racial equality and justice was unmatched, and we owe a debt of gratitude to his tireless work to achieve full equality.

“The SPLC will always cherish his support. Together with the American people, we celebrate the life of John Lewis and recommit to his call to get into ‘good trouble, necessary trouble,’ by standing up to injustice. He embodied the best all of us can become. In his own words, ‘You can do it. You must do it. Not just for yourselves but for generations yet unborn.”

-Southern Poverty Law Center