John Lewis, born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama, was one of the most prominent leaders of the American civil rights movement. Inspired by the nonviolent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis became a passionate advocate for racial equality and justice. As a young man, he was a key figure in the student-led sit-ins that challenged segregation in the 1960s and was one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Lewis gained national attention in 1965 when he led a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, a peaceful protest that was violently attacked by police, an event that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” The brutality of the attack galvanized the nation and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Lewis’s activism did not stop with the civil rights movement. After his years of grassroots organizing, he went on to serve as a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, a position he held from 1987 until his death in 2020. During his time in Congress, Lewis continued to fight for racial justice, voting rights, healthcare, and economic equality. Known for his deep integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to nonviolence, he earned the title “The Conscience of the Congress.” Even after facing physical violence and setbacks, Lewis’s work remained focused on empowering marginalized communities and pushing for a more inclusive and equitable society. His legacy as a lifelong advocate for justice and equality continues to inspire future generations of activists and leaders.
