Council President Katz Remembers Civil Rights Icon John Lewis

Representative John Lewis (D-Ga) died Friday, July 17 of pancreatic cancer leaving behind a powerful legacy as one of the game-changers in American Civil Rights history.

Lewis was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and spoke – at the age of 23 – to the huge crowd on the Mall shortly before Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Lewis had his skull broken two years later on Bloody Sunday as he led marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

He worked to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. In 1965, the Voting Right Act of 1965 was passed due in large part to the work of King, Lewis and other members of the Big Six (members of the Civl Rights movement.)

Lewis was called the “conscience of Congress” and was proud of getting into “good trouble” as he called his activism.

Local leaders in Montgomery County, including Council President Sidney Katz, expressed their sympathy and admiration after Lewis’ death. They acknowledged his commitment to justice and equality.

“He was never afraid to call out injustice, speak truth to power and fight for the promise of our nation that all of us are created equal. We are a better country because of John Lewis. I will strive to do all I can to make Montgomery County live up to his ideals. May he Rest In Peace,” said Katz in a Tweet.

Katz shared his personal memories of the Civil Rights leader with MyMCMedia:

 

Other county councilmembers also paid homage to Lewis on Twitter:

See related posts below:

County, State Officials Mourn The Passing of Civil Rights Icon John Lewis

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