One Hero In Congress …

Posted on by under Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Tributes

Today I am tired of writing about Trump & Co.  I have started two posts, one about the G-20 summit, and another about some strange goings-on among the White House staff his week.  Both remain ‘works-in-process’ at this point, not because I got bored with them, but because I realized I was disgusted by everything pertaining to Trump and the administration, Congress and their boot-licking legislation, and the whole works.  So, I was just flipping through some friends’ posts on Facebook, hoping to gain a fresh perspective, when I came across this:

john-lewisAnd that led me to the thought of writing about somebody in Congress who is not driven by greed, not led by fear of Trump, but a true representative of We The People.  While it is true that there are others in Congress who have more of a conscience than the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, in my opinion, there are none to compare with Representative John Lewis.

Most of you probably know at least a bit of Lewis’ history, but please bear with me as I quickly recap for any who may not.

john-lewis-2John Lewis, one of the most notable heroes of the Civil Rights movement, began his career as an activist in 1959, at the age of 19, by organizing student sit-in demonstrations, bus boycotts, and non-violent protests for voter and racial equality.  Then in 1961, he volunteered to participate in the Freedom Rides, becoming one of the original thirteen Freedom Riders. Lewis risked his life on those rides many times by simply sitting in seats reserved for whites. He was also beaten severely by angry mobs and arrested by police for challenging the injustice of Jim Crow segregation in the South.

John-Lewis-SNCCLewis’ was elected chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1963, at only age 23!  As such, he became a member of the Big Six, leaders of six prominent civil rights organizations, and the organizers of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King gave his I Have A Dream Speech.

5 minutes 17 seconds, and worth every second!

On August 28, 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of the march, John Lewis along with President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter addressed a crowd at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Also present were Caroline Kennedy and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Other participants included the parents of Trayvon Martin, Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker.

 

Perhaps Mr. Lewis’ most notable moment came in 1965 when he helped organize the now-famous voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and was among 600 demonstrators attacked by police. This day became known as Bloody Sunday, and 58 people were taken to a local hospital, including Mr. Lewis, who suffered a fractured skull.

John-lewis-skullJohn Lewis won the House seat for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District in 1986.  He has since been re-elected 15 times, and has dropped below 70 percent of the vote only once. He is one of the most liberal members of the House, and one of the most liberal congressmen ever to represent a district in the Deep South. On May 21, 2006, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Lewis was the “only former major civil rights leader who extended his fight for human rights and racial reconciliation to the halls of Congress.” In the same article, they referred to Mr. Lewis as the ‘conscience of Congress’.

Though now 77 years old, Lewis’ passion for justice has not dimmed.  In June 2016, he staged a sit-in demanding House Speaker Paul Ryan allow a vote on gun-safety legislation in the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Speaker pro tempore Daniel Webster ordered the House into recess, but Democrats refused to leave the chamber for nearly 26 hours. He is no fan of Donald Trump, having compared him to George Wallace at one point during the campaigns last year.  In a Meet The Press interview one week before Trump’s inauguration, he stated, “I don’t see the president-elect as a legitimate president. I think the Russians participated in having this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I don’t plan to attend the Inauguration. I think there was a conspiracy on the part of the Russians, and others, that helped him get elected. That’s not right. That’s not fair. That’s not the open, democratic process.” Trump, naturally, responded with ugly tweets.

There is so much more to be said about Congressman Lewis, but if you want to know more, there are many good books out there, including his own autobiography, Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement, originally published in 1998 and re-issued in paperback in 2015.

John-Lewis-Barack-Obama-medalIn 2011, John Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, and on January 6, 2016, it was announced that a future United States Navy underway replenishment oiler would be named USNS John Lewis. He has won so many awards that I cannot possibly list them all.

Lewis was the only living speaker from the March on Washington present on the stage during the inauguration of Barack Obama. Obama signed a commemorative photograph for Lewis with the words, “Because of you, John. Barack Obama.”

In response to his earlier tweet, one of his followers tweeted the following: Katy Otto ‏@exfkaty to tweet. “You are one of a small handful of politicians that gives me hope for this country. Thank you immensely for your service.” I second that, Ms. Otto. In my opinion, Representative John Lewis is a hero both of the past and the present, and possibly the most conscionable of the 535 members of Congress.

37 thoughts on “One Hero In Congress …”

  3. Heroism, Dignity, Integrity.
    And there is trash out there who because of skin tone think themselves superior.
    But John Lewis’ name will live on long after they’ve been shovelled away and forgotten.

    Liked by 1 person

    • You’ve got that right! He is worth a thousand of those who would judge him and find him lacking. I only wish there were many, many more like him … we need his courage and humanity now more than ever. Writing this piece made me want to read his biography again, even though I read it years ago. Perhaps I shall … I’m sure I still have it residing on one or the other of my many shelves and stacks of books! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: One Hero In Congress – The Militant Negro™

  6. Dear Jill,

    He has long been a hero of mine. What a decent man. I had hoped Mrs. Clinton would have picked him to be her VP.
    NOW, he is a bit up in years to be considered for such a post. He is one where his constituents can count on to do his best by them.

    He is very proud of a comic book series that he wrote about the “civil rights” fighting years. As per Wikipedia, the March trilogy is a black and white graphic novel trilogy about the Civil Rights Movement, told through the perspective of civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis.

    Hugs, Gronda

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, he would have made a great VP, but I have concerns about his age and wonder how long he will be able to remain in Congress. He is one great man, though, in my book!
      I have seen the comic book series in Barnes & Noble, and also on Amazon, though as yet I have not purchased it. Perhaps I shall take a closer look next time I am at B&N — most likely this afternoon! 🙂 🙂 🙂
      Hugs!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Great post — and a great choice! It is surprising that this man hasn’t been targeted (literally) by the white supremacists, isn’t it?? As you say, you need to get away from the loud noises issuing forth from the Trumpet from time to time — clear your head and breathe some fresh air. As I said, good choice! 👏

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Hugh! Yes, along with Thurgood Marshall and King himself, of course, they are the ones that have earned my eternal respect. I look around today, and I don’t see many like them … and we certainly need more of this sort! It was fun to write this and hard to limit myself! A breath of fresh air, indeed!

      Like

  11. That nasty tweet sent to John Lewis by DT was not one of DT’s finer moments. It showed DT’s ignorance of U.S. history, especially the place of Rep. John Lewis in that history. I would hope that shameful tweet message is written up in the future history books of the U.S, at least the ones that aren’t prejudiced. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

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