REPORT.
REMEMBERING JOHN LEWIS.
HERE'S LESTER HOLT.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WE'RE COMING ON THE AIR TO BRING
YOU THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE 
NATION'S FAREWELL TO JOHN LEWIS,
THE GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN AND 
CIVIL RIGHTS ICON DIED TWO WEEKS
AGO, AT THE AGE OF 80, AND FOR 
THE PAST SIX DAYS, WE HAVE SEEN 
MOVING TRIBUTES TO LEWIS, IN 
TROY, SELMA, AND MONTGOMERY, 
ALABAMA, AND IN WASHINGTON, 
D.C., AND THEN TODAY, IT IS THE 
PEOPLE OF ATLANTA'S TURN TO SAY 
GOODBYE.
THE MAN WHO REPRESENTED THEM IN 
CONGRESS FOR MORE THAN THREE 
DECADES.
THE FUNERAL IS BEING HELD AT 
ATLANTA'S FAMED EBENEZER BAPTIST
CHURCH, WHERE MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR. AND SR ONCE PREACHED.
AMONG THOSE JOINING TO REMEMBER 
JOHN LEWIS HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY 
PELOSI AND THREE FORMER 
PRESIDENTS, BILL CLINTON, GEORGE
BUSH AND BARACK OBAMA.
AND WE'VE HEARD FROM JOHN LEWIS 
HIMSELF TODAY, IN AN OP-ED HE 
WROTE SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH, 
AND PUBLISHED THIS MORNING, THE 
DAY OF HIS FUNERAL, IN "THE NEW 
YORK TIMES."
IN IT, HE URGED READERS TO CARRY
ON HIS WORK TOWARD JUSTICE, 
COMPASSION, NONVIOLENCE, AND 
EQUAL RIGHTS, SAYING THOUGH I 
MAY NOT BE HERE WITH YOU, I URGE
YOU TO ANSWER THE HIGHEST 
CALLING OF YOUR HEART, AND STAND
UP FOR WHAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE.
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO LET 
FREEDOM RING.
THE FINAL WORDS OF JOHN LEWIS.
NBC'S BLAYNE ALEXANDER IS 
OUTSIDE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH 
FOR US.
SET THE SEEN, IF YOU WILL. 
>> LESTER, GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
IN ALMOST EVERY DIRECTION I 
LOOK, I CAN SEE PEOPLE WHO CAME 
OUT HERE, NOT PART OF THE 
SERVICES, AND PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T 
EVEN KNOW JOHN LEWIS PERSONALLY 
BUT ARE HERE WHO WANT TO BE PART
OF THE MOMENT.
AND ON A NORMAL DAY, ON A GOOD 
DAY, THIS SANCTUARY CAN HOLD 
MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE, BUT
TODAY, BECAUSE OF COVID-19 
CONCERNS, CAPACITY IS GOING TO 
BE LIMITED TO ONLY 240 PEOPLE.
SO YOU CAN CERTAINLY IMAGINE 
SOMEBODY LIKE CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS WHO STOPPED TO SHAKE EVERY
HAND, TAKE EVERY PICTURE, THERE 
ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO 
BE PART OF THIS SERVICE TODAY, 
BUT SIMPLY CAN'T GET INSIDE.
SO YOU KNOW, IF I LOOK TO MY 
LEFT ABOUT, A FEET OR SO, I SEE 
DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
GATHERED, JUST LOOKING AT WHAT 
HAS BEEN PUT UP BY THE CHURCH, 
PART OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL
BE BROADCAST OUTSIDE OF THE 
CHURCH TO COME AND GATHER AND 
WATCH AND WE ARE SEEING A 
GROWING CROWD DOING EXACTLY.
THAT AS FOR INSIDE, YOU SET THE 
SCENE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 
THREE FORM YOUR U.S. PRESIDENTS 
WHO WILL BE INSIDE, WE KNOW BUSH
HAS ARRIVED ALREADY, WE KNOW 
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI ALSO 
INSIDE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE FAMILY
SAID THAT ABOUT HALF OF THOSE 
SEATS ARE GOING TO GO TO THE 
CONGRESSMAN'S FAMILY, RELATIVES,
CLOSE FRIENDS, AND WHEN YOU LOOK
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE 
DIGNITARIES, AND REALLY IT 
DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH ROOM FOR THE 
GENERAL PUBLIC.
NOW, IN A STATEMENT TODAY, HIS 
FAMILY SAID, WE WISH THAT WE 
COULD HUG EVERYBODY.
SHAKE EVERY HAND.
OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
PAY TRIBUTE.
WHAT THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO
INSTEAD IS WATCH VIRTUALLY AND 
HANG A BLUE OR PURPLE RIBBON 
OUTSIDE OF THEIR DOORS, OUTSIDE 
OF THEIR PORCH, TO KIND OF 
SIGNIFY THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE
ONLINE WATCHING COMMUNITY.
AND LESTER, JUST TO SAY A NOTE 
ABOUT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH, 
OF COURSE, THIS WHOLE WEEK HAS 
BEEN ONE THAT IS DEEPLY STEEPED 
IN SYMBOLISM AND TODAY IS 
CERTAINLY NO DIFFERENT.
ASIDE FROM BEING THE CHURCH THAT
WAS PASTORED BY DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR., THIS IS THE 
CHURCH THAT JOHN LEWIS GOT 
MARRIED IN, WHEN HE WAS, BACK IN
1968, HE WAS ACTUALLY MARRIED BY
DADDY KING, AS HE'S CALLED, 
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S FATHER,
THE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR HIS 
BELOVED WIFE LILLIAN WERE HELD 
HERE IN 2012, SO IT IS ONLY 
FITTING THAT THIS BE THE PLACE 
WHERE ATLANTA AND THE COUNTRY 
COME TO SAY GOODBYE TO JOHN 
LEWIS.
LESTER?
>> BLAYNE ALEXANDER, SETTING THE
SCENE AS WE SEE PEOPLE TAKING 
THEIR PLACES IN THE PEWS, FAMILY
AND DIGNITARIES, WILL BE FILING 
IN HERE SHORTLY, THE SERVICE 
ITSELF SCHEDULED TO BE UNDER WAY
IN SEVERAL MINUTES FROM NOW.
JOINING OUR COVERAGE TODAY, 
SENIOR ADVISER TO PRESIDENT 
OBAMA, VALERIE JARRETT, GREAT TO
SEE YOU TODAY.
WE KNOW THREE FORMER PRESIDENTS 
WILL BE HERE, AMONG THEM OF 
COURSE BARACK OBAMA, CAN YOU 
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR 
RELATIONSHIP, AND HOW IT GREW 
OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS?
>> IT WAS A VERY CLOSE 
RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK FROM THE MOMENT THAT 
THEY HAD BEEN TOGETHER, A TOUGH 
TIME IN THE PRIMARY GIVEN THE 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLINTONS, 
HE WAS JUST NOT AN ADVISER BUT A
FRIEND, AND THERE ISN'T A TIME 
DURING THE COURSE OF THE EIGHT 
YEARS -- RELYING ON THE ADVICE 
AND COUNSEL THAT CONGRESSMAN 
LEWIS ALWAYS PROVIDED.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME, GIVE ME YOUR
MEMORIES OF 2015, AND THE 50th 
ANNIVERSARY OF SELMA, WHEN WE 
SAW JOHN LEWIS AND PRESIDENTS 
OBAMA AND BUSH, MARCH ACROSS THE
BRIDGE?
>> Reporter: OH, MY GOODNESS, 
BEFORE THEY MARCHED ACROSS THE 
BRIDGE, THERE WAS AN ICONIC 
PHOTO OF PRESIDENT OBAMA 
EMBRACING CONGRESSMAN LEWIS, 
BEING TOGETHER, IT WAS SO 
INCREDIBLY MOVING TO BE THERE, 
TO BE PRESENT THAT DAY, AN 
HISTORIC MOMENT.
BUT THERE WERE SO MANY MOMENTS 
LIKE THAT.
I REMEMBER CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE 
DURING OUR LAST CELEBRATION, WE 
HAD BEEN PART OF JOHN LEWIS 
BEING A PART OF THE CELEBRATION,
WITH YOUNG ACTIVISTS.
AND JOHN LEWIS WAS MOVED TO 
TEARS LISTENING TO SPEECHES 
DESCRIBING WHAT PRESIDENT 
OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY MEANT TO 
THEM.
AND I LOOKED OVER AND JOHN 
LEWIS, OPENLY WEEPING, AND WHY 
AM I HOLDING BACK?
AND I AM SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED 
THE OP-ED PIECE APPEARING IN 
TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES."
EVERY WORD SHOULD BE READ BY 
EVERYONE.
AND I THINK I WAS SO MOVED WHEN 
HE SAID DEMOCRACY IS NOT A 
STATE, IT'S AN ACT AND IT'S 
INCUMBENT UPON EACH GENERATION 
TO DO ITS PART TO BUILD OUR 
BELOVED COMMUNITY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, LOVE.
>> WE CAN SEE MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS BEING LED INTO THE 
CHURCH AND YOU MENTIONED THE 
OP-ED, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS 
COMING BUT WHEN I READ IT, I 
WASN'T SURPRISED THAT IT SEEMED 
LIKE THE FITTING THING, THE KIND
OF THING THAT HE WOULD DO, IS TO
OFFER THOSE WORDS, EVEN AS HIS 
FUNERAL WAS BEING PREPARED.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU
SAW THAT HE HAD WRITTEN 
SOMETHING?
>> WELL, I WAS MOVED WHEN I SAW 
HIS NAME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS 
IMPORTANT THAT HE POINTED OUT 
THAT WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG BOY, 15
YEARS OLD, EMMETT TILL, HIS 
MOTHER DECIDED TO HAVE AN OPEN 
CASKET FUNERAL, ACCUSED OF 
MURDERING A WHITE WOMAN, AND 
SOMETHING THAT WAS LATER 
RECANTED.
AND IT SCARED HIM TO REALIZE, 
EVEN THOUGH HE CAME FROM TWO 
LOVING PARENTS, AND SIBLINGS AND
HIS FAMILY, THAT WHEN HE LEFT 
HIS HOME, HE WAS AT RISK.
AND IT WAS THE WORDS OF MARTIN 
LUTHER KING THAT MOTIVATED HIM 
TO WANT TO GET INTO THAT GOOD 
TROUBLE, THAT NECESSARY TROUBLE.
AND SO I THINK GIVEN HIS WORK, 
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW
AND WHAT HE WENT THROUGH AS A 
YOUNG PERSON, HELPED DESCRIBE 
WHY HE WAS MOVED ENOUGH, THE DAY
BEFORE HE ENTERED THE HOSPITAL, 
TO GO OUT TO BLACK LIVES PLAZA, 
AND SEE FOR HIMSELF, SOMETHING 
THAT WAS PART OF THE EVIDENCE OF
THIS GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
ALL AROUND OUR COUNTRY, OF ALL 
RACE, ALL BACKGROUND, ALL AGES, 
LESTER, ARE SHOWING UP, TO SAY 
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS, AND 
THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PEACEFUL 
DEMONSTRATIONS.
AND HE ALSO MENTIONS IN THE 
OP-ED THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.
AND THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE TWO.
TO DEMONSTRATE BUT ALSO TO VOTE.
55 YEARS AGO, HE FOUGHT SO HARD.
>> A VERY TIMELY PIECE FROM 
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS, AND I THINK 
IT TOUCHED MANY OF US.
VAL, VALERIE JARRETT, THANK YOU 
VERY MUCH FOR COMING ON AND 
SHARING YOUR MEMORIES WITH US.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO. 
>>> HISTORIAN AND NBC NEWS 
CONTRIBUTOR JOHN MEACHUM, HIS 
BOOK "HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON,"
JOHN LEWIS AND THE POWER OF HOPE
IS OUT SOON.
JOHN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON.
IF YOU CAN KIND OF CAPTURE THIS 
WEEK THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED, IT 
BEGAN WITH THIS BOY FROM TROY, 
AS A CELEBRATION IN ALABAMA, AND
OF COURSE, IT CONCLUDED AT THE 
CHURCH THAT THE KINGS PREACHED 
AT, CAN YOU SUM IT UP FOR US?
>> SURE.
JOHN LEWIS' LAST EARTHLY 
ODYSSEY, MIRRORED HIS EARTHLY 
ODYSSEY, FROM TROY, TO 
MONTGOMERY, TO WASHINGTON, AND 
NOW TO ATLANTA, WHERE HE SERVED 
IN THE CONGRESS FOR 33 YEARS, 
BUT YOU KNOW, ATLANTA STARTED 
FOR CONGRESSMAN LEWIS WHEN HE 
WAS A VERY YOUNG MAN, HE HAD 
ONLY LIVED IN TROY, HE HAD GONE 
TO SEMINARY IN NASHVILLE, AND 
THEN HE MOVED TO ATLANTA, WHEN 
HE BECAME CHAIRMAN OF THE 
STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING 
COMMITTEE, HE WAS ABOUT THREE 
MILES AWAY, SNCC'S OFFICES WERE 
ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY FROM 
WHERE HE SIT, LIES IN STATE NOW,
ON RAYMOND STREET, AND HE 
DESCRIBED THOSE OFFICES AS 
CINDER BLOCKS FOR BOOKCASES, AND
COTS, AND MATS FOR ALL OF THE 
PEOPLE, ALL OF THE PILGRIMS, THE
PROTESTERS, WHO WERE COMING 
THROUGH, AS HE AND THESE 
UNIMAGINABLY YOUNG PEOPLE, 60 
YEARS AGO, SET ABOUT TO FORCE 
AMERICA TO ACTUALLY LIVE UP TO 
THE IMPLICATIONS OF ITS STATED 
CREED.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TODAY, 
AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROTUNDA,
IMAGINE THE PRINCES AND THE 
POTENTATES AND THE KING, ALL THE
POWERS OF THE EARTH ARE PAYING 
TRIBUTE TO THIS YOUNG MAN WHO 
WAS BORN THE GREAT GRANDSON OF A
SLAVE, HE, THERE WAS AN 
OUTHOUSE, THERE WAS NO 
ELECTRICITY IN THEIR HOUSE, HIS 
FIRST MEMORY WAS OF HIS MOTHER'S
GARDEN, A LITTLE GARDEN, ON A 
TENANT FORM, IN PIKE COUNTY, 
ALABAMA, IN A SEGREGATED AND AS 
REMOTE A PLACE AS YOU COULD FIND
IN THE 20th CENTURY.
AND NOW, PRESIDENTS AND A 
PRESIDENT THAT HE MADE POSSIBLE,
AND I SUSPECT PRESIDENT OBAMA 
WILL SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 
THAT'S NOT HYPERBOLE, JOHN 
LEWIS, THE BOY FROM TROY, WHICH 
HE WAS CALLED THE BOY PREACHER 
FROM TROY, HE PREACHED HIS FIRST
SERMON WHEN HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD,
AND THE MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER 
PUT HIS PICTURE IN THE PAPER AND
CALLED HIM THE BOY PREACHER FROM
TROY AND DR. KING CALLED HIM THE
BOY FROM TROY WHEN THEY FIRST 
MET, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THIS SINGULAR 
FIGURE, WHO WAS DRIVEN BY THE 
GOSPEL, UNDERSTOOD THE TACTICS 
OF GANDHI, AND RESOLUTELY, AND 
CONSISTENTLY COMPELLED US TO 
FACE THE TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES, 
AND TO EMBRACE THE POSSIBILITIES
OF WHAT WE CAN BE.
AND IF WE WERE SAYING THIS ABOUT
ANYONE ELSE, LESTER, ONE MIGHT 
THINK THAT THIS IS 
SENTIMENTALITY, THE WAYS OF 
EMOTION AFTER DEATH, THAT HE WAS
A BELOVED LAWMAKER, NONE OF THAT
IS TRUE, THIS IS NOT SENT 
MEANTALITY, THIS IS HISTORY, AND
WHAT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS WROTE AND
WAS PUBLISHED THIS MORNING, IS 
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CHOOSE 
WHICH SIDE OF HISTORY WE WANT TO
BE ON.
YOU AND I ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT,
THE NATION IS NOT WATCHING A 
FUNERAL FOR A SEGREGATIONIST 
WHITE SHERIFF OR WHITE CHIEF.
THEY ARE NOT HONORING PEOPLE WHO
WANTED TO FORCLOSE THE 
POSSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE NOT HONORING THOSE WHO 
TURNED THE FIRE HOSES ON PEOPLE.
WE'RE HONORING THE PEOPLE WHO 
WERE THE TARGET OF THAT HATE AND
THAT FEAR AND JOHN LEWIS ALWAYS 
INSISTED ON ANSWERING THAT HATE 
AND FEAR WITH LOVE AND HOPE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMMEMORATING 
TODAY.
>> JOHN, I THINK OUR INSTINCTS 
SOMETIMES IS TO AT A MOMENT LIKE
THIS, A MOMENT OF MOURNING, OF A
MEMORIAL, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO 
TALK ABOUT POLITIC, BUT JOHN 
LEWIS WAS A POLITICIAN, A VERY, 
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY POLITICS 
EMBRACED WHO HE WAS, AND SO I 
HAVE TO ASK YOU, AND WHAT WE 
READ THIS OP-ED TODAY, AND WHICH
HE MAKES THIS PASSIONATE CALL 
FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE, AND IT COMES
ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS QUESTIONING OUR 
ABILITY TO ELECT A LEADER, AND 
SUGGESTING MAYBE EVEN MOVING THE
ELECTION DATE ITSELF.
THAT CAN'T REALLY BE IGNORED 
HERE.
>> IT CAN'T.
AND JOHN WOULDN'T WANT US TO.
THERE IS NOW A VERY STARK CHOICE
BEFORE THE COUNTRY, AS THERE WAS
60 YEARS AGO.
AND AS THERE WAS IN THE CIVIL 
WAR AND SO FORTH.
THE CHOICE BEFORE US IS DO WE 
WANT TO BE THE AMERICA OF JOHN 
LEWIS, WHO SAW THE VOTE AT THE 
ULTIMATE FORM OF NONVIOLENT 
PROTEST, JOHN LEWIS EVER RAISED 
A FIST TO THOSE POLICE CHIEFS, 
HE NEVER HIT BACK.
THE ONE TIME HE EVER WAS 
AGGRESSIVE IN ANY WAY WAS WHEN 
DR. KING WAS ASSAULTED IN A 
HOTEL IN SELMA, ALABAMA, WHEN A 
WHITE NATIONALIST TRIED TO, 
ACTUALLY KICKED KING IN THE 
GROIN, AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE 
FACE, AS KING WAS INTEGRATING 
THE HOTEL ALBERT IN SELMA, IN 
1965, AND JOHN WOULD TELL THE 
STORY ABOUT EVERYTHING IN HIM 
PUSHED HIM TO THROW A BEAR HUG 
AROUND THE MAN DOING THE 
ASSAULT.
SO THE ONLY TIME HE FOUGHT BACK 
PHYSICALLY WAS TO HUG SOMEONE IN
ORDER TO PROTECT DR. KING.
THE CHOICE WE HAVE IS DO WE WANT
TO BE THE COUNTRY OF JOHN LEWIS 
AND THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES
OF WHICH HE WAS A PART, WHO 
BELIEVED IN DEMOCRACY, WHO 
BELIEVED IN SELF-GOVERNMENT.
AND WHO SIMPLY WANTED THE 
COUNTRY NOT TO GIVE THEM 
ANYTHING BUT TO APPLY THE 
LOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF OUR 
FOUNDING DOCUMENT.
YOU AND I LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE 
WE THINK OF THE DECLARATION OF 
INDEPENDENCE AS A SACRED 
DOCUMENT.
IT IS.
BUT IT IS NOT -- HAS NOT BEEN 
INCLUZIVE ENOUGH.
THE PRESIDENT -- THE INCOUPLE 
BEPT PRESIDENT HAS STARKLY 
UNDERSCORED FOR THE NATION TODAY
WHICH SIDE OF HISTORY DO YOU 
WANT TO BE ON?
THE SIDE OF HISTORY WHERE THE 
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS ALLOWED 
TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE 
COUNCILS OF STATE?
WHICH IS HAT THIS COUNTRY WAS 
FOUNDED ON, HOWEVER IMPERFECTLY.
OR DO YOU WANT TO BE ONLY ABOUT 
POWER AND YOURSELF, WHICH IS 
WHAT THE OVAL OFFICE WANTS TO BE
NOW.
>> EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE PUNCTUATED 
BY THE RINGING OF BELLS.
WE'LL HONOR THAT AND LISTEN.
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
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[ BELLS TOLLING ]
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
[ BELLS TOLLING ]
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[ BELLS TOLLING ]
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>>> AMEN.
WE THANK GOD FOR THAT MOMENT.
AND NOW, PASTOR WARNOCH AND THE 
FAMILY WILL ENTER THE SANCTUARY.
>> SHALL WE STAND?
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE 
LIGHT SAID THE LORD.
HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH 
HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE 
AGAIN.
WHOSOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN 
ME SHALL NEVER DIE.
FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER 
LIVES.
THAT HE SHALL STAND WITH ME AT 
THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH.
THOUGH AFTER MY SKIN WORMS 
DESTROY THIS BODY.
YET IN MY FLESH WILL I SEE GOD.
WHOM I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF AND 
MINE EYES SHALL BEHOLD AND NOT 
ANOTHER.
BEHOLD I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY.
WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP BUT WE 
SHALL BE CHANGED.
IN A MOMENT.
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE.
AT THE LAST TRUMP FOR THE DEAD 
MUST BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE.
AND WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED.
THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON 
IMMORTALITY.
THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON 
INCORRUPTION.
AND WHEN THIS CORRUPTIBLE SHALL 
HAVE PUT ON INCORRUPTION, WHEN 
THIS MORTAL SHALL HAVE PUT ON 
IMMORTALITY, THEN WILL BE 
BROUGHT TO PASS THE THING THAT 
IS WRITTEN, DEATH IS SWALLOWED 
UP IN VICTORY.
OH, DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?
OH, GRAVE, WHERE IS YOUR 
VICTORY?
THANKS BE UNTO GOD.
WHO GIVES US TO VICTORY.
THANKS BE UNTO GOD, WHO GAVE 
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS THE VICTORY 
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD 
AND LIBERATOR.
LET ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD SAY 
AMEN.
>> All: AMEN.
>> YOU'RE IN A BAPTIST CHURCH.
SAY IT LOUDER.
SAY AMEN.
>> All: AMEN!
>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.
GOD BLESS YOU MY SISTERS AND 
BROTHERS.
YOU WHO SIT IN THE SANCTUARY AND
THOSE WHO JOIN US ON OUR CHURCH 
LIVESTREAM.
OR BY TELEVISION.
GOD BLESS YOU AND WELCOME TO 
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
SPIRITUAL HOME OF MARTIN LUTHER 
KING JR.
SPIRITUAL HOME OF JOHN ROBERT 
LEWIS.
AMERICA'S FREEDOM CHURCH.
WE HAVE COME TO SAY FAREWELL TO 
OUR FRIEND.
IN THESE DIFFICULT DAYS.
THAT HAVE EVEN MADE GRIEVING 
MORE CHALLENGING.
AT A TIME WHEN WE WOULD FIND 
COMFORT IN EMBRACING ONE 
ANOTHER.
LOVE COMPELS US TO SOCIALLY 
DISTANCE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE ARE 
TOGETHER.
IN PRINCIPLE.
EVEN IF NOT IN PROXIMITY.
WE MAY NOT ALL BE IN THE SAME 
ROOM, BUT WE ARE ON THE SAME 
PAGE.
AND WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE 
SAME SPIRIT.
WE LOVE JOHN ROBERT LEWIS.
COME ON, GIVE GOD PRAISE.
♪♪
COME ON, LET -- LET THE NATION 
CELEBRATE.
♪♪
LET THE ANGELS REJOICE.
JOHN LEWIS.
JOHN LEWIS!
♪♪
THE BOY FROM TROY.
LET ME JUST OFFER THIS WE PRAISE
GOD FOR JOHN LEWIS.
AS WE GATHER IN THIS HOUSE OF 
GOD, WE'RE REMINDED THAT AS A 
TEENAGER, HE ACTUALLY WRESTLED 
WITH A CALL TO MINISTRY.
A FARM BOY, HE USED TO PREACH TO
THE CHICKENS.
I GUESS YOU HAVE TO START 
SOMEWHERE.
AND AT AGE 16, HE PREACHED WHAT 
WE BAPTISTS CALL HIS TRIAL 
SERMON IN A LITTLE COUNTRY 
CHURCH.
BUT AS HIS LIFE TOOK SHAPE 
INSTEAD OF PREACHING SERMONS, HE
BECAME ONE.
HE BECAME A LIVING, WALKING 
SERMON ABOUT TRUTH-TELLING AND 
JUSTICE-MAKING IN THE EARTH.
HE LOVED AMERICA UNTIL AMERICA 
LEARNED HOW TO LOVE HIM BACK.
WE CELEBRATE JOHN LEWIS.
AT A TIME THAT THERE IS SO MUCH 
GOING ON IN OUR WORLD, THE NEWS 
CYCLE IS PACKED AND MOVES AS A 
DIZZYING PACE.
YET FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, 
IT IS AS IF TIME STOOD STILL 
WHILE THE NATION TAKES ITS TIME 
TO REMEMBER HIM.
I RISE SIMPLY TO ASK IN THIS 
CALL TO CELEBRATION, WHAT IS IT 
THAT HAS SUMMONED US HERE?
CALLS US TO SLOW DOWN, TO LINGER
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, WITH SO MUCH
SWIRLING AROUND US?
WE'RE SUMMONED HERE BECAUSE, IN 
A MOMENT, WHEN THERE ARE SOME IN
HIGH OFFICE WHO ARE MUCH BETTER 
AT DIVISION THAN VISION.
WHO CANNOT LEAD US SO THEY SEEK 
TO DIVIDE US.
IN A MOMENT WHEN THERE IS SO 
MUCH POLITICAL CYNICISM AND 
NARCISSISM THAT MASQUERADES AS 
PATRIOTISM, HERE LIES A TRUE 
AMERICAN PATRIOT WHO RISKED HIS 
LIFE AND LIMB FOR THE HOPE AND 
PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY.
WE CELEBRATE JOHN LEWIS!
BEATEN AND BATTERED, AND NEVER 
BITTER AND ALWAYS UNBOWED, ON A 
BRIDGE IN SELMA, HE STARED DOWN 
BIGOTRY, BRUTALITY, AND TYRANNY 
AND WON.
HOW DID HE DO I HAD?
THE GREAT GREAT GRANDSON ON 
SLAVES, HE RECEIVED A SPIRITUAL 
POWER BORNE OF SUFFERING.
A MORAL AUDACITY THAT 
TRANSCENDED HUMAN STATION.
CALLED UPON THE HUMAN LAW TO 
MORE CLOSELY ALIGN ITSELF TO THE
LAW OF LOVE.
SPIRITUALITY, THE SLAVE 
UNDERTOOK THE REDEMPTION THAT 
THE MASTER HAD PROE FEIGNED IN 
HIS MIDST.
JOHN LEWIS' ANCESTORS MET A MAN 
NAMED JESUS.
AND JOHN LEWIS RECEIVED THAT 
FAITH AND TOOK IT WITH HIM 
ACROSS THAT BRIDGE IN SELMA AND 
EVERY OTHER BRIDGE WE HAVE COME 
TO CELEBRATE JOHN LEWIS.
SO LET US BE CLEAR.
WHEN PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES 
JOHNSON TAKES UP HIS PEN TO SIGN
THE VOTING RIGHTS INTO LAW, WHAT
HE ETCHED IN INK HAD ALREADY 
BEEN SANCTIONED BY BLOOD.
THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS.
THE BLOOD OF SWERNER, CHAMPON, 
GOODMAN, TWO JEWS AND AN 
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MURDERED.
THE BLOOD OF JOHN LEWIS.
WE CELEBRATE JOHN LEWIS.
HE WAS WOUNDED.
FOR AMERICA'S TRANSGRESSIONS.
BRUISED FOR OURQUINIQUITIES.
THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE 
WAS IN HIM.
BY HIS STRIFE, WE ARE HEALED.
SO LET'S REMEMBER HIM TODAY, AND
LET'S RECOMMIT TOMORROW TO 
STANDING TOGETHER AND FIGHTING 
TOGETHER AND VOTING TOGETHER AND
STANDING UP ON BEHALF OF TRUTH 
AND RIGHTEOUSNESS TOGETHER!
WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER!
THE DEMOCRACY TOGETHER.
LET'S WORSHIP THE LORD.
LET'S WORSHIP THE LORD TOGETHER.
THANK GOD FOR JOHN ROBERT LEWIS.
LET THE NATION SAY AMEN.
>> All: AMEN.
>> AND LET THE ANGELS REJOICE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WILL BE COMING FROM THE 23rd 
NUMBER OF PSALMS.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.
I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN 
GREEN PASTURES.
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL 
WATERS.
HE RESTORES MY SOUL.
HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF 
RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME'S 
SAKE.
YEAH, THOUGH I WALK IN THE 
VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I
WILL FEAR NO EVIL.
THOU ART WITH ME.
THOU PREPARES A TABLE BEFORE ME 
IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES.
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.
SURELY, GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL
FOLLOW ME ALL OF THE DAYS OF MY 
LIFE.
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF
THE LORD FOREVER.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'LL BE READING A 1 CHRONICLE 13
CHAPTER.
IF I COULD SPEAK ALL THE 
LANGUAGES OF EARTH AND OF ANGELS
BUT DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD 
ONLY BE A NOISY GONG OR A 
CLANGING CYMBAL.
IF I HAD THE GIFT OF PROPHESY 
AND IF I UNDERSTOOD ALL OF GOD'S
SECRET PLANS AND POSSESSED ALL 
KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAD SUCH 
FAITH THAT I COULD MOVE 
MOUNTAINS BUT DIDN'T LOVE 
OTHERS, I WOULD BE NOTHING.
IF I GAVE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO 
THE POOR, AND EVEN SACRIFICED MY
BODY, I COULD BOAST ABOUT IT.
BUT IF I DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I 
WOULD HAVE GAINED NOTHING.
LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND.
LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL 
OR PROUD OR RUDE.
IT DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY.
IT IS NOT IRRITABLE.
AND IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF BEING 
WRONGED.
IT DOES NOT REJOICE ABOUT 
INJUSTICE BUT REJOICES WHENEVER 
THE TRUTH WINS OUT.
LOVE NEVER GIVES UP.
NEVER LOSES FAITH.
IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL.
AND ENDURES THROUGH EVERY 
CIRCUMSTANCE.
PROPHESY AND SPEAKING IN AN 
UNKNOWN LANGUAGE AND UNKNOWN 
LANGUAGES AND SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE 
WILL BECOME USELESS.
BUT LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER.
NOW OUR KNOWLEDGE IS PARTIAL AND
INCOMPLETE.
AND EVEN THE GIFT OF PROPHESY 
REVEALS ONLY PART OF THE WHOLE 
PICTURE.
THE TIME OF PERFECTION COMES, 
THESE PARTIAL THINGS WILL BECOME
USELESS.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE AND 
THOUGHT AND REASONED AS A CHILD.
WHEN I GREW UP, I PUT AWAY 
CHILDISH THINGS.
NOW WE SEE THINGS IMPERFECTLY 
LIKE PUZZLING REFLECTIONS IN A 
MIRROR.
THEN, WE'LL SEE EVERYTHING WITH 
PERFECT CLARITY.
ALL THAT I KNOW NOW IS PARTIAL 
AND INCOMPLETE.
BUT THEN, I WILL KNOW EVERYTHING
COMPLETELY.
JUST AS GOD NOW KNOWS ME 
COMPLETELY.
THREE THINGS WILL LAST FOREVER.
FAITH.
HOPE.
AND LOVE.
AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS 
LOVE.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
WHILE WE KNOW THAT DEATH IS THE 
GREAT EQUALIZER, WE ALL 
RECOGNIZE THAT EACH PERSON'S 
EXPERIENCE WITH IT IS DIFFERENT.
AND SO I WANT TO EXTEND 
CONDOLENCES TO YOU, JOHN MILES, 
THE SIBLINGS OF JOHN LEWIS, THE 
ENTIRE LEWIS FAMILY ON BEHALF OF
THE ENTIRE KING FAMILY INCLUDING
MY AUNT, CHRISTINE, MY DAD'S 
ONLY LIVING SIBLING, WHO WOULD 
HAVE BEEN HERE WITH US TODAY BUT
FOR COVID.
BUT REST ASSURED, SHE IS VIEWING
US ON TELEVISION AS WE SPEAK.
LET US PRAY.
GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD, WHOSE 
CREATOR OF US ALL AND SUSTAINER 
OF ALL THINGS, WE INVOKE YOU ON 
THIS MORNING.
WE WELCOME YOU HOLY SPIRIT INTO 
THIS PLACE.
WE HUMBLY LOOK TO YOU IN THIS 
HOUR FOR WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND
COMFORT AS WE CELEBRATE THE 
HOME-GOING OF YOUR SON AND 
SERVANT, CONGRESSMAN JOHN ROBERT
LEWIS.
PLEASE, DEAR FATHER, COMFORT 
THIS FAMILY.
AND GRANT THEM A PEACE OF GOD 
THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
SURROUND THEM WITH YOUR LOVE.
IN THE WORDS OF YOUR SERVANT, 
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., WHO 
REMINDED US THAT DEATH IS NOT A 
PERIOD THAT ENDS THIS GREAT 
SENTENCE OF LIFE.
BUT A COMMA WHICH PUNCTUATES IT 
TO A LOFTY AND HIGHER 
SIGNIFICANCE.
HEMP US, O GOD, TO GRASP THAT 
TRUTH AND SEE THE MAGNITUDE OF 
THIS MOMENT.
NOT MERELY AS THE DEATH OF A 
GREAT SOUL, BUT AS A DIVINE 
MESSAGE THAT SAYS TO EACH AND 
EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS EARTH, 
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
HEAR ME AND HEED MY MESSAGE IN 
THIS HOUR.
THAT LOVE EVEN FOR AN ENEMY IS 
THE ONLY WAY TO TRANSFORM THIS 
WORLD INTO A TRUE BROTHER AND 
SISTERHOOD.
WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE LIFE 
AND LEGACY OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS, WHO SHOWED US THIS MORE 
EXCELLENT WAY OF LIFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR HONORING US 
WITH HIS PRESENCE AND ALLOWING 
OUR LIVES TO INTERSECT WITH HIS 
LIFE.
BE WITH HIS FAMILY.
BE WITH THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH 
HIM IN THAT MOVEMENT.
AND KNOW THAT HE CONTINUES TO 
LIVE ON IN AND THROUGH EACH AND 
EVERY ONE OF THEM AND EACH AND 
EVERY ONE OF US.
WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD, FOR THIS 
NONVIOLENT WARRIOR, WHO FOUGHT 
FOR TRUE PEACE.
WHICH DADDY TAUGHT US IS NOT 
MERELY THE ABSENCE OF TENSION 
BUT THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE.
AS WE HONOR THE LIFE OF 
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, WHO SHED
BLOOD ON THAT EDMUND PETTUS 
BRIDGE, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE 
RIGHT TO VOTE.
GRANT THAT WE NEVER AGAIN TAKE 
THAT RIGHT FOR GRANTED AND THAT 
WE EXERCISE IT NO MATTER WHAT.
AND THAT WE NEVER AGAIN TAMPER 
WITH THAT RIGHT.
OVERTAKING THIS HOUR, OUR 
CONGRESS THAT THEY MIGHT RESTORE
VOTING RIGHTS PROTECTIONS IN OUR
NATION.
AS WE HONOR THE LIFE OF THIS 
NONVIOLENT WARRIOR, WHO EMBODIED
THE VERY SPIRIT OF CHRIST AND 
SHOWED US THAT WE HAVE THE 
SPIRITUAL POWER TO RESIST 
INJUSTICE AND EVIL AND HATRED 
AND VITRIOL.
WE ARE INTERNALLY GRATEFUL THAT 
HE LIVED AMONG US THOSE FORE 
SCORE YEARS AND DEMONSTRATED 
PHYSICAL FORCE IS NO MATCH FOR 
SOUL FORCE.
GRANT US THE CAPACITY TO FOLLOW 
HIS EXAMPLE TO FIGHT INJUSTICE 
WITHOUT BITTERNESS AND HOSTIITY
BUT WITH A RIGHTEOUS 
INDIGNATION.
OH, GOD, AS ELIJAH ASKED FOR A 
PORTION OF HIS ANOINTING AS HE 
TRANSITIONED, LET A DOUBLE 
PORTION OF WHAT JOHN LEWIS' LIFE
WAS ABOUT FALL ON US IN THIS 
HOUR SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO 
GET IN GOOD TROUBLE.
ANOINT US WITH THE DOUBLE 
PORTION IN THIS GENERATION TO 
GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE UNTIL 
THERE IS RADICAL REFORM IN 
POLICING IN OUR NATION.
ANOINT US A DOUBLE PORTION TO 
GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE UNTIL 
VOTER SUPPRESSION IS NO LONGER A
PART OF OUR BODY POLITICS.
ANOINT US WITH THE DOUBLE 
PORTION TO GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE
UNTIL THERE IS AN EQUITABLE 
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN THIS 
NATION UNTIL EVERYONE HAS A 
LIVABLE WAGE AND AFFORDABLE 
HOUSING AND GOOD HEALTH CARE.
ANOINT US TO GET INTO GOOD 
TROUBLE UNTIL THE SCHOOL TO 
PRISON PIPELINE IS NONEXIST TENT
AND EVERY CHILD GETS AN RKS 
QUITABLE EDUCATION.
GRANT US A DOUBLE PORTION NOT 
WHITE SUPREMACY IS UPROOTS AND 
BEHAVIORS NO LONGER REFLECT 
WHITE SUPREMACY.
GRANLT US A DURABLE PORTION, 
GOD, TO GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE 
UNTIL THIS NATION SURELY BECOMES
A COMPASSIONATE NATION.
AS DADDY REMINDED US, 
ULTIMATELY, A GREAT NATION IS A 
COMPASSIONATE NATION.
GRANT US, GOD, A DOUBLE PORTION 
ANOINTING TO GET INTO GOOD 
TROUBLE UNTIL BLACK BODIES ARE 
NO LONGER A THREAT IN THIS 
WORLD.
AND BLACK LIVES HAVE EQUITABLE 
REPRESENTATION POWER AND 
INFLUENCE IN EVERY ARENA.
GRANT US FINALLY, FATHER GOD, 
THAT A DOUBLE PORTION TO GET 
INTO GOOD TROUBLE UNTIL LOVE 
BECOMES THE WAY WE LIVE.
THE WAY WE LEAD.
THE WAY WE LEGISLATE.
AND UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN 
LIKE WATER.
AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY 
STREAM.
THANK YOU, O GOD, FOR THIS GREAT
MAN, WHO LIVERED AMONG US, WHO 
NOW JOINS THE GREAT CLOUD OF 
FREEDOM FIGHTERS.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR HIS LIFE 
AND HIS LEGACY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET INTO 
GOOD TROUBLE AS LONG AS YOU 
GRANT US THE BREATH TO DO SO.
IT IS IN THE MAJESTIC AND THE 
MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST,
THAT I DO PRAY, AND ALL THE 
PEOPLE OF GOD SAID TOGETHER, 
AMEN.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪ YOU MAY BUILD GREAT CATHEDRALS
LARGE OR SMALL ♪
♪ YOU MAY BUILD SKYSCRAPERS 
GRAND AND TALL ♪
♪ YOU MAY CONQUER ALL THE 
FAILURES OF YOUR PAST ♪
♪ OH, OH, BUT ONLY WHAT YOU DO 
FOR CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ YOU MAY SEEK EARTHLY POWER, 
WEALTH, AND FAME ♪
♪ MM ♪
♪ AND THE WORLD MIGHT BE 
IMPRESSED BY YOUR GREAT NAME ♪
♪ SOON THE GLORIES OF THIS LIFE 
WILL ALL SOON BE PASSED ♪
♪ OH, OH, OH BUT ONLY WHAT YOU 
DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ REMEMBER ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR 
CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH REMEMBER ONLY ONLY ONLY 
ONLY WHAT YOU DO YEAH YEAH FOR 
CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR HIM 
THE LORD IT WILL IT WILL BE 
COUNTED IN LIFE ♪
♪ ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR CHRIST 
WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH OH OH REMEMBER ONLY WHAT 
YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH OH OH REMEMBER ONLY WHAT 
YOU DO ONLY WHAT YOU DO FOR 
CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH OH OH ONLY WHAT ONLY WHAT 
YOU DO YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL BE
COUNTED IN THE END ♪
♪ ONLY WHAT YOU WHAT YOU DO FOR 
CHRIST OH IT'S GONNA LAST OH 
IT'S GONNA LAST YEAH ♪
♪ OH OH OH ONLY WHAT YOU DO WHAT
YOU DO FOR CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ OH OH OH OH ONLY WHAT YOU DO 
FOR CHRIST WILL LAST ♪
♪ YEAH ONLY WHAT YOU DO ONLY 
WHAT YOU DO ♪
♪♪
>> AMEN.
AMEN.
>> THIS IS JOHN LEWIS' FAVORITE 
POEM.
OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME,
BLACK AS THE DEAD FROM POLE TO 
POLE, I THINK WHATEVER GOD MADE 
ME FOR MY INCONQUERABLE SOUL.
IN THE PEAL CIRCUMSTANCES I HAVE
NOT WEPT OR CRIED ALOUD, UNDER 
THE BLUDGEONINGS OF CHANCE, MY 
HEAD IS BLOODY, BUT I'M BOWED.
BEYOND THIS PLACE OF WRATH AND 
TEARS, LOOMS BUT THE HORROR OF 
THE SHADE.
AND YET, MANY AS OF THE YEARS 
FIND AND SHALL FIND ME UNAFRAID.
IT MATTERS NOT HOW STRAIGHT THE 
GAIT HOW CHARGED WITH PUNISHMENT
THE SCROLL, I'M THE MASTER OF MY
FATE, I'M THE CAPTOR OF MY SOUL.
JOHN LEWIS WAS MY HERO AND GOOD 
FRIEND.
LET'S HONOR HIM BY GETTING IN 
GOOD TROUBLE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ONLY THE INCONQUERABLE SPIRIT
AND THE MAGNANIMOUS SOUL OF JOHN
LEWIS COULD SUMMON ALL OF US 
TOGETHER IN THIS PLACE AT THIS 
TIME.
ONLY JOHN LEWIS COULD COMPEL 
THREE LIVING AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
TO COME TO THIS HOUSE OF GOD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT ALL OF 
THEM ARE HERE.
THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH.
WHO WAS PRESIDENT THE LAST TIME 
WE AUTHORIZED A VOTING RIGHTS 
ACT.
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM JEFFERSON 
CLINTON.
♪♪
AND IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE, 
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE HONORABLE 
BARACK OBAMA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
BUT THE PROGRAM WILL PROCEED AS 
PRINTED.
PRESIDENT BUSH, PRESIDENT 
CLINTON, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 
NANCY PELOSI.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND -- ANOTHER LIVING SAINT 
AMONG US, TEACHER AND ACTIVIST, 
THE REVEREND JAMES LAWSON.
♪♪
>> GOOD MORNING.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, JOHN 
MILES, LEWIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
LAURA AND I THANK YOU FOR 
INVITING US TO BE HERE TODAY.
JOHN'S STORY BEGAN ON A TINY 
FARM IN TROY, ALABAMA, A PLACE 
SO SMALL HE SAID YOU COULD 
BARELY FIND IT ON THE MAP.
PASTOR WARNOCK TALKED ABOUT THE 
CHICKENS.
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH.
EVERY MORNING, HE WOULD RISE 
BEFORE THE SUN TO TEND TO THE 
FLOCK OF CHICKENS.
HE LOVED THOSE CHICKENS.
ALREADY CALLED TO BE A MINISTER 
WHO CARED FOR OTHERS JOHN FED 
THEM AND TENDED TO THEIR EVERY 
NEED.
EVEN THEIR SPIRITUAL ONES.
JOHN BAPTIZED THEM, MARRIED THEM
AND PREACHED TO THEM.
WHEN HIS PARENTS CLAIMED ONE FOR
FAMILY SUPPER, JOHN REFUSED TO 
EAT ONE OF HIS FLOCK.
GOING HUNGRY WAS HIS FIRST ACT 
OF NONVIOLENT PROTEST.
HE ALSO NOTED IN LATER YEARS 
THAT HIS FIRST CONGREGATION OF 
CHICKENS LISTENED TO HIM MORE 
CLOSELY THAN SOME OF HIS 
COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS.
JOHN ALSO THOUGHT THE CHICKENS 
WERE JUST A LITTLE MORE 
PRODUCTIVE.
AT LEAST THEY PRODUCED EGGS, HE 
SAID.
FROM TROY TO THE SIT-INS OF 
NASHVILLE, FROM THE FREEDOM 
RIDES TO THE MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON, FROM FREEDOM SUMMER 
TO SELMA, JOHN LEWIS ALWAYS 
LOOKED OUTWARD, NOT INWARD.
HE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF OTHERS.
HE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN PREACHING 
THE GOSPEL IN WORD AND IN DEED.
INSISTING THAT HATE AND FEAR HAD
TO BE ANSWERED WITH LOVE AND 
HOPE.
JOHN LEWIS BELIEVED IN THE LORD.
HE BELIEVED IN HUMANITY.
AND HE BELIEVED IN AMERICA.
HE HAS BEEN CALLED AN AMERICAN 
SAINT.
A BELIEVER WILLING TO GIVE UP 
EVERYTHING.
EVEN LIFE ITSELF TO BEAR WITNESS
TO THE TRUTH THAT DROVE HIM ALL 
HIS LIFE.
THAT WE COULD BUILD A WORLD OF 
PEACE AND JUSTICE, HARMONY AND 
DIGNITY AND LOVE.
AND THE FIRST CRUCIAL STEP ON 
THAT JOURNEY WAS THE RECOGNITION
THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE BORN IN THE 
IMAGE OF GOD.
AND CARRY A SPARK OF THE DIVINE 
WITHIN THEM.
LAURA AND I WERE PRIVILEGED TO 
SEE THAT SPARK IN JOHN UP CLOSE.
WE WORKED WITH HIM TO BRING THE 
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF 
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND 
CULTURE TO THE WASHINGTON MALL.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE 
EMMITT TILL UNSOLVED CIVIL 
RIGHTS CRIMES ACT THAT I SIGNED 
TO SEEK RESOLUTION IN CASES 
WHERE JUSTICE HAD BEEN TOO LONG 
DENIED.
AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET JOINING
HIM IN SELMA, ALABAMA, FOR THE 
50th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS MARCH 
ACROSS THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE,
WHERE WE GOT TO WATCH PRESIDENT 
BARACK OBAMA THANK JOHN AS ONE 
OF HIS HEROES.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S A STORY IN THE OLD 
SCRIPTURES THAT MEANT A LOT TO 
JOHN.
IN THE HEBREW BIBLE, THE LORD IS
LOOKING FOR A PROPHET, WHOM 
SHALL I SEND, GOD WONDERS?
AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?
ISAIAH ANSWERS, HERE AM I.
SEND ME.
JOHN LEWIS HEARD THAT CALL A 
LONG TIME AGO IN SEGREGATED 
ALABAMA.
HE TOOK UP THE WORK OF THE LORD 
THROUGH ALL HIS DAYS.
HIS LESSON FOR US IS THAT WE 
MUST ALL KEEP OURSELVES OPEN TO 
THE HEAR -- OPEN TO HEARING THE 
CALL OF LOVE.
THE CALL OF SERVICE.
AND THE CALL TO SACRIFICE FOR 
OTHERS.
LISTEN, JOHN AND I HAD OUR 
DISAGREEMENTS, OF COURSE.
BUT IN THE AMERICA JOHN LEWIS 
FOUGHT FOR AND THE AMERICA I 
BELIEVE IN, DIFFERENCES OF 
OPINION ARE INEVITABLE ELEMENTS 
AND EVIDENCE OF DEMOCRACY IN 
ACTION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE, THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING 
CONGRESSMEN AND PRESIDENTS CAN 
HAVE DIFFERING VIEWS ON HOW TO 
PERFECT OUR UNION WHILE SHARING 
THE CONVICTION THAT OUR NATION, 
HOWEVER FLAWED, IS AT HEART A 
GOOD AND NOBLE ONE.
WE LIVE IN A BETTER AND NOBLER 
COUNTRY TODAY BECAUSE OF JOHN 
LEWIS AND HIS ABIDING FAITH IN 
THE POWER OF GOD.
IN THE POWER OF DEMOCRACY.
AND IN THE POWER OF LOVE TO LIFT
US ALL TO A HIGHER GROUND.
THE STORY THAT BEGAN IN TROY IS 
NOT ENDING HERE TODAY.
NOR IS THE WORK.
JOHN LEWIS LIVES FOREVER IN HIS 
FATHER'S HOUSE.
AND HE WILL LIVE FOREVER IN THE 
HEARTS OF AMERICANS WHO ACT 
JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK 
HUMBLY WITH THEIR GOD.
MAY THE FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SEE 
JOHN LEWIS TO HIS REST.
AND MAY GOD BLESS THE COUNTRY HE
LOVED.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST, I THANK JOHN MILES AND 
THE LEWIS FAMILY.
AND JOHN'S INCOMPARABLE STAFF 
FOR THE CHANCE TO SAY A FEW 
WORDS.
ABOUT MAN I LOVED FOR A LONG 
TIME.
I'M GRATEFUL PASTOR WARNOCK TO 
SAY IT IN EBENEZER.
THE HOLY PLACE SANCTIFIED BY 
THOSE WHO HAVE WORSHIPPED HERE.
I THANK MY FRIEND, REVEREND 
BERNIECE KING WHO STOOD BY MY 
SIDE AND GAVE A FASCINATING 
SERMON IN ONE OF THE MOST 
CHALLENGING PERIODS OF MY LIFE.
I THANK PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH,
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
SPEAKER PELOSI, THANK YOU.
AND REPRESENTATIVE HOYER AND 
REPRESENTATIVE CLYBURN.
WHO I REALLY THANK FOR WITH THE 
STROKE OF A HAND ENDING AN 
INTERFAMILY FIGHT WITHIN OUR 
PARTY.
PROVING THAT PEACE IS NEEDED BY 
EVERYONE.
MADAME MAYOR, THANK YOU, YOU 
HAVE FACED MORE THAN A FAIR 
SHARE OF CHALLENGES.
IN THESE LAST FEW MONTHS.
AND YOU HAVE FACED THEM WITH 
CANDOR, AND DIGNITY, AND HONOR.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
LEADERSHIP.
I -- I MUST SAY FOR A FELLOW 
THAT GOT HIS START SPEAKING TO 
CHICKENS, JOHN'S GOTTEN A PRETTY
FINELY ORGANIZED AND 
ORCHESTRATED AND DEEPLY DESERVED
SENDOFF THIS LAST WEEK.
FOR HIM HOME-GOING HAS BEEN 
SOMETHING TO BEHOLD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL 
OF US WHO LOVED HIM REMEMBER 
THAT HE WAS, AFTER ALL, A HUMAN 
BEING.
A MAN LIKE ALL OTHER HUMANS, 
BORN WITH STRENGTH THAT HE MADE 
THE MOST OF WHEN MANY DON'T.
BORN WITH WEAKNESSES THAT HE 
WORKED HEARD TO BEAT DOWN WHEN 
MANY CAN'T.
BUT STILL A PERSON.
IT MADE HIM MORE INTERESTING.
AND IT MADE HIM, IN MY MIND, 
EVEN GREATER.
20 YEARS AGO, WE CELEBRATED THE 
35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SELMA 
MARCH AND WE WALKED TOGETHER 
ALONG WITH CORETTA, AND -- MANY 
OTHERS FROM THE MOVEMENT WHO ARE
NO LONGER WITH US.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ANDY YOUNG 
AND REVEREND JACKSON AND DIANE 
AND MANY OTHERS WHO SURVIVED.
BUT ON THAT DAY, I GOT HIM TO 
REPLAY FOR ME A STORY HE TOLD ME
WHEN WE FIRST MET BACK IN THE 
1970s.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST
AN ASPIRING WHATEVER, SOUTHERN 
POLITICIAN AND I HADN'T BEEN 
ELECTED GOVERNOR.
AND HE WAS ALREADY A LEGEND.
SO I SAID, JOHN, WHAT'S THE 
CLOSEST YOU EVER CAME TO 
ACTUALLY GETTING KILLED DOING 
THIS?
AND HE SAID, WELL, ONCE WE WERE 
IN A DEMONSTRATION AND I GOT 
KNOCKED DOWN ON THE GROUND AND 
PEOPLE WERE GETTING BEAT UP 
PRETTY BAD.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I LOOKED UP AND
THERE WAS A MAN HOLDING A LONG, 
HEAVY PIECE OF PIPE, AND HE 
LIFTED IT AND WAS CLEARLY GOING 
TO BRING IT RIGHT DOWN INTO MY 
SKULL.
AND AT THE VERY LAST SECOND, I 
TURNED MY NECK AWAY AND THE 
CROWD PUSHED HIM A LITTLE BIT.
AND A COUPLE SECONDS LATER, I 
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT I WAS STILL 
ALIVE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO 
REMEMBER THE -- FIRST BECAUSE HE
WAS A QUICK-THINKER.
AND SECONDLY BECAUSE HE WAS HERE
ON A MISSION THAT WAS BIGGER 
THAN PERSONAL AMBITION.
THINGS LIKE THAT SOMETIMES JUST 
HAPPEN.
BUT USUALLY, THEY DON'T.
I THINK THREE THINGS HAPPENED TO
JOHN LEWIS LONG BEFORE WE MET 
AND BECAME FRIENDS THAT MADE HIM
WHO HE WAS.
FIRST, THE FAMOUS STORY OF JOHN 
AT 4 WITH HIS COUSINS AND 
SIBLINGS, HOLDING HIS AUNT'S 
HAND, MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THEM 
RNGS RUNNING AROUND A LITTLE OLD
WOODEN HOUSE AS THE WIND 
THREATENED TO BLOW THE HOUSE OFF
ITS MOORINGS.
GOING TO THE PLACE WHERE THE 
HOUSE WAS RISING AND ALL THOSE 
TINY BODIES TRYING TO WEIGH IT 
DOWN.
I THINK HE LEARNED MANAGER ABOUT
THE POWER OF WORKING TOGETHER.
SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE POWERFUL
THAN ANY INSTRUCTION.
SECOND, NEARLY 20 YEARS LATER 
WHEN HE WAS 23, THE YOUNGEST 
SPEAKER AND THE LAST SPEAKER AT 
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
WHEN HE GAVE A GREAT SPEECH 
URGING PEOPLE TO TAKE TO THE 
STREETS ACROSS THE SOUTH TO 
SEIZE THE CHANCE TO FINALLY END 
RACISM.
AND HE LISTENED TO PEOPLE THAT 
HE KNEW HAD THE SAME GOAL SAY, 
WELL, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW 
WE SAY THIS BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING
TO GET CONVERTS.
NOT MORE ADVERSARIES.
JUST THREE YEARS LATER, HE LOST 
THE LEADERSHIP OF -- TO STOAKLEY
CARMICHAEL.
BECAUSE HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I 
REALLY -- HE DID A GOOD JOB FOR 
A GUY THAT YOUNG AND COME FROM 
TROY, ALABAMA, IT MUST HAVE BEEN
PAINFUL TO LOSE.
BUT -- HE SHOWED AS A YOUNG MAN 
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU 
CANNOT DO TO HANG ON TO A 
POSITION BECAUSE IF YOU DO THEM,
YOU WON'T BE WHO YOU ARE 
ANYMORE.
AND I SAY THERE WERE TWO OR 
THREE YEARS THERE, WHERE THE 
MOVEMENT WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO 
FAR TOWARDS STOAKLEY.
BUT IN THE END, JOHN LEWIS 
PREVAILED.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE HE HAD 
THE KIND OF CHARACTER HE SHOWED 
WHEN HE LOST AN ELECTION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THEN THERE WAS BLOODY SUNDAY.
HE FIGURED HE MIGHT GET 
ARRESTED.
AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
NOT TO FOR ALL THE RHAPSODIC 
THINGS WE BELIEVE ABOUT JOHN 
LIEU WIZ, HE HAD REALLY GOOD 
MIND AND HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW CAN I MAKE THE 
MOST OF EVERY SINGLE MOMENT?
SO HE'S GETTING READY TO MARCH 
FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY.
HE WANTS TO GET ACROSS THE 
BRIDGE.
WHAT DO WE REMEMBER?
HE MADE A -- CUT QUITE A STRANGE
FIGURE.
A TRENCH COAT AND A BACKPACK.
NOW, YOUNG PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK
THAT'S NO BIG DEAL.
BUT THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY 
BACKPACKS BACK THEN.
AND YOU NEVER SAW ANYBODY IN A 
TRENCHCOAT LOOKING HALFWAY 
DRESSED UP WITH A BACKPACK.
BUT JOHN PUT AN APPLE, AN 
ORANGE, A TOOTH BRUSH, 
TOOTHPASTE INTO THE BACKPACK TO 
TAKE CARE OF HIS BODY BECAUSE HE
FIGURED HE WOULD GET ARRESTED.
AND TWO BOOKS.
ONE BY RICHARD HOFSTETTER ON 
AMERICA'S POLITICAL TRADITION, 
DEFEATIST MIND.
AND ONE, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
THOMAS MERTON.
A ROAM.
CATHOLIC TRAPPIST MONK.
WHO WAS THE SON OF ITINERANT 
ARTISTS MAKING AN ASTONISHING 
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION.
AND WHAT'S A YOUNG GUY WHO IS 
ABOUT TO GET HIS BRAINS BEAT OUT
AND GOING TO PRISON TAKING THAT?
I THINK HE FIGURED THAT IF 
THOMAS MERTON COULD FIND HIS WAY
AND KEEP HIS FAITH AND BELIEVE 
IN THE FUTURE, HE, JOHN LEWIS, 
COULD, TOO.
AND -- 
[ APPLAUSE ]
SO WE HONOR OUR FRIEND.
FOR HIS FAITH AND FOR LIVING HIS
FAITH.
WHICH THE SCRIPTURES SAYS IS THE
SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR.
AND THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS 
UNSEEN.
JOHN LEWIS WAS A WALKING REBUKE 
TO PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT, WELL, WE 
AIN'T THERE YET, AND WE'VE BEEN 
WORKING A LONG TIME, ISN'T IT 
TIME TO BAG IT?
HE KEPT MOVING.
HE HOPED FOR AND IMAGINED AND 
LIVED AND WORKED AND MOVED FOR 
HIS BELOVED COMMUNITY.
HE TOOK A SAVAGE BEATING ON MORE
THAN ONE DAY.
AND HE LOST THAT BACKPACK ON 
BLOODY SUNDAY.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT 
HAPPENED TO IT.
MAYBE SOMEDAY, SOMEONE WILL BE 
STRICKEN WITH CONSCIENCE AND 
GIVE SOME OF IT BACK.
BUT WHAT IT REPRESENTED NEVER 
DISAPPEARED FROM JOHN LEWIS' 
SPIRIT.
WE HONOR THAT MEMORY TODAY 
BECAUSE, AS A CHILD, HE LEARNED 
TO WALK WITH THE WIND.
TO MARCH WITH OTHERS TO SAVE A 
TINY HOUSE.
BECAUSE AS A YOUNG MAN, HE 
CHALLENGED OTHERS TO JOIN HIM.
WITH LOVE AND DIGNITY TO HOLD 
AMERICA'S HOUSE DOWN.
AND OPEN THE DOORS OF AMERICA TO
ALL ITS PEOPLE.
WE HONOR HIM BECAUSE IN SELMA ON
THE THIRD ATTEMPT, JOHN AND HIS 
COMRADES SHOWED THAT SOMETIMES 
YOU HAVE TO WALK INTO THE WIND 
ALONG WITH WITH IT.
AS HE CROSSED THE BRIDGE AND 
MARCHED INTO MONTGOMERY.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT, JOHN ALWAYS 
KEPT WALKING TO REACH THE 
BELOVED COMMUNITY.
HE GOT INTO A LOT OF GOOD 
TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY, BUT LET'S
NOT FORGET, HE ALSO DEVELOPED AN
ABSOLUTELY UNCANNY ABILITY TO 
HEAL TROUBLED WATERS.
WHEN HE COULD HAVE BEEN ANGRY 
AND DETERMINED TO CANCEL HIS 
ADVERSARIES, HE TRIED TO GET 
CONVERTS INSTEAD.
HE THOUGHT THE OPEN HAND WAS 
BETTER THAN THE CLENCHED FIST.
HE LIVED BY THE FAITH AND 
PROMISE OF ST. PAUL, LET US NOT 
GROW WEARY IN DOING GOOD.
FOR IN DUE SEASON, WE WILL REAP 
IF WE DO NOT LOSE HEART.
HE NEVER LOST HEART.
HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
HE KEPT THE FAITH.
BUT, WE GOT OUR LAST LETTER 
TODAY ON THE PAGES OF "THE NEW 
YORK TIMES.
 " KEEP MOVING.
IT IS SO FITTING, ON THE DAY OF 
HIS SERVICE, HE LEAVES US OUR 
MARCHING ORDERS.
KEEP MOVING.
20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I CAME HERE 
AFTER THE SELMA MARCH TO A BIG 
DINNER HONORING JOHN AND LILLIAN
AND JOHN MILES, YOU HAD A BIG 
AFRO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND IT WAS REALLY PRETTY.
AND YOUR DADDY WAS GIVING YOI 
GRIEF ABOUT IT, AND I SAID, 
JOHN, LET'S NOT GET OLD TOO 
SOON.
I MEAN, IF I HAD HAIR LIKE THAT,
I WOULD HAVE IT DOWN TO MY 
SHOULDERS.
BUT ON THAT NIGHT, I WAS ALMOST 
OUT OF TIME.
AND PEOPLE WERE TO BE PRESIDENT,
PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME, WELL, IF 
YOU COULD DO ONE MORE THING, 
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
OR WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD DONE
THAT YOU DIDN'T?
ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND -- SOMEONE ASKED ME THAT 
NOW, BECAUSE I HAD MANY FRIENDS 
IN ATLANTA.
I SAID, IF I COULD JUST DO ONE 
THING, IF GOD CAME TO ME TONIGHT
AND SAID, OKAY, YOUR TIME'S UP, 
YOU GOTTA GO HOME, AND I'M NOT A
GENIE.
I'M NOT GIVING YOU THREE WISHES.
ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I SAID, I WOULD INFECT EVERY 
AMERICAN WITH WHATEVER IT WAS 
THAT JOHN LEWIS GOT AS A 
4-YEAR-OLD KID AND TOOK THROUGH 
A LIFETIME TO KEEP MOVING AND 
KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION.
AND KEEP BRINGING OTHER PEOPLE 
TO MOVE.
AND TO DO IT WITHOUT HATRED IN 
HIS HEART.
WITH A SONG.
TO BE ABLE TO SING AND DANCE.
AS JOHN'S BROTHER FREDDY SAID IN
TROY, KEEP MOVING TO THE BALLOT 
BOX EVEN IF IT'S A MAILBOX.
AND KEEP MOVING TO THE BELOVED 
COMMUNITY.
JOHN LEWIS WAS MANY THINGS.
A FRIEND THAT WOULD WALK THE 
ROADS HE WOULD ASK YOU TO WALK, 
BRACE THE RODS HE WOULD ASK YOU 
TO BE WHIPPED BY, ALWAYS KEEPING
HIS EYES ON THE PRIZE, ALWAYS 
BELIEVING NONE OF US WILL BE 
FREE UNTIL ALL OF US ARE EQUAL.
I JUST LOVE HIM.
I ALWAYS WILL.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT HE 
STAYED TRUE TO FORM.
HE'S GONE UP YONDER AND LEFT US 
WITH MARCHING ORDERS I SUGGEST 
SINCE HE'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO GOD 
TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE SPARROW 
AND US, WE SALUTE, SUIT UP, AND 
MARCH ON.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD DAY.
I'M NOT SURE MORNING, AFTERNOON,
WHATEVER IT IS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH 
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
REVEREND WARNOCK, THANK YOU FOR 
ENABLING US ALL TO BE HERE IN 
THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH TO 
HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF 
JOHN LEWIS WITH THREE PRESIDENTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
ISN'T THAT EXCITING?
[ APPLAUSE ]
PRESIDENT CLINTON, PRESIDENT 
BUSH, AND SOON PRESIDENT OBAMA 
HERE WITH US.
ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AS 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, I'M 
PLEASED TO BRING READINGS TO 
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I'M SAD TO BRING CONDOLENCES TO 
THE FAMILY.
TO JOHN, MILES, TO THE ENTIRE 
LEWIS FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR 
SHARING JOHN LEWIS WITH US.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH SO 
MANY MEMBERS, 50.
WE WOULD HAVE MORE EXCEPT 
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTED TAOS BRING
MORE.
I HOPE THEY WILL ALL STAND, 
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS HARRIS
AND BOOKER.
SENATORS HARRIS AND BOOKER.
AMONG THEM MR. HOYER, STENY 
HOYER, JIM CLYBURN AND I SERVED 
WITH JOHN LEWIS FOR OVER 30 
YEARS.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND IN OUR GROUP WE HAVE SENIOR 
MEMBERS, AND WE HAVE MEMBERS OF 
OUR FRESHMAN CLASS.
JOHN CONVINCED EACH ONE OF US 
THAT WE WERE HIS BEST FRIEND IN 
CONGRESS.
AND WE COME WITH A FLAG FLOWN 
OVER THE CAPITAL THE NIGHT THAT 
JOHN PASSED.
WHEN THIS FLAG FLEW THERE, IT 
SAID GOOD-BYE.
IT WAVED GOOD-BYE TO JOHN, OUR 
FRIEND, OUR MENTOR, OUR 
COLLEAGUE.
THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN THAT WE ALL 
HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING 
WITH IN THE CONGRESS OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
SO AGAIN, WE ALL BRING OUR 
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND TO
MICHAEL COLLINS AND JOHN STAFF 
WHO MEANT SO MUCH TO HIM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO 
JOHN LEWIS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE'RE 
GREAT TO THE FAMILY FOR AND THE 
STAFF FOR, BUT LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE
THE STAMINA THEY HAD TO KEEP UP 
WITH JOHN AS HE PASSED ON FROM 
SELMA TO TROY TO WASHINGTON AND 
NOW TO ATLANTA TO BE AT REST.
WHEN JOHN LEWIS SERVED WITH US, 
HE WANTED US TO SEE THE CIVIL 
RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE REST 
THROUGH HIS EYES.
HE TOLD US SO MANY STORIES.
HE TAUGHT US SO MUCH, AND HE 
TOOK US TO SELMA.
FOR TWO DECADES, MR. PRESIDENT, 
HE TOOK US TO SELMA.
YOU REFERENCE 25 YEARS.
SOME OF US WERE THERE MANY 
TIMES, INCLUDING 50th 
ANNIVERSARY WHERE PRESIDENT BUSH
WAS AS WELL AS PRESIDENT OBAMA.
HE WANTED US TO SEE HOW 
IMPORTANT IT WAS, HOW IMPORTANT 
IT WAS TO UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT 
OF NONVIOLENCE.
I HESITATE TO SPEAK ABOUT 
NONVIOLENCE IN THE PRESENCE OF 
THE MASTER HIM, REVEREND LAWSON,
WHO WE'LL BE HEARING FROM 
SHORTLY.
WE WERE TOGETHER JUST RECENTLY 
IN SELMA WHEN HE AND JOHN SPOKE 
AT CHURCH, AND HE TAUGHT THE 
WORLD, REALLY, ABOUT 
NONVIOLENCE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.
THE WORD IN SCAN SCRIPT MEANS 
TWO THINGS.
IT MEANS NONVIOLENCE, AND IT 
MEANS INSISTENCE ON THE TRUTH.
THAT'S WHAT JOHN LEWIS WAS ALL 
ABOUT, NONVIOLENTLY INSISTING ON
THE TRUTH.
HE INSISTED IN SELMA, 
WASHINGTON, D.C., HE INSISTED ON
THE TRUTH WHEREVER HE WENT.
HE INSISTED ON THE TRUTH IN THE 
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
EVERY TIME HE STOOD UP TO SPEAK,
WE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO TAKE US 
TO A HIGHER PLACE OF OUR 
UNDERSTANDING, WHAT OUR 
RESPONSIBILITIES WERE AND WHAT 
OUR OPPORTUNITIES WERE.
AND HE INSISTED NO MATTER HOW 
INSISTENT SOMEBODY MIGHT BE, HE 
INSISTED ON THE TRUTH.
HE SAID, IN MY LIFE, I HAVE DUP 
ALL I CAN TO DEMONSTRATE THE WAY
OF PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE AND 
NONVIOLENCE IS THE MORE 
EXCELLENT WAY.
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN, IN THE 
ARTICLE THE PRESIDENT REFERENCED
TO LET FREEDOM RING.
HE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT TRUTH 
MARCHING ON.
HE ALWAYS WORKED FOR A MORE 
PERFECT UNION.
OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND,
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING 
WITH JOHN, AND I BROUGHT HIM 
THIS PLAGUE PIN I WEAR, ONE JUST
LIKE IT.
WHY I DID SO ON THAT FOURTH OF 
JULY WEEKEND WAS BECAUSE IT IS 
ENGRAVED WITH SOMETHING THAT 
SAYS "ONE COUNTRY, ONE DESTINY."
NOW, WASN'T THAT WHAT JOHN LEWIS
WAS ALL ABOUT?
ONE COUNTRY, ONE DESTINY.
I MENTION IT BECAUSE THIS WAS 
SEWN INTO -- EMBROIDERED INTO 
THE LINING OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S 
COAT THAT HE HAD ON THE NIGHT HE
LEFT US.
I THINK HE HAD THE COAT ON ALL 
THE TIME, BUT ALSO THAT NIGHT.
AND JOHN LEWIS AND ABRAHAM 
LINCOLN HAD SO MUCH IN COMMON.
JOHN, WE GOT TO KNOW HIM FIRST 
AND FOREMOST IN FRONT OF THE 
LINCOLN MEMORIAL, WHEN HE MADE 
THAT BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
SPEECH.
JOHN LAY IN STATE UNDER THE 
ROTUNDA -- IN THE ROTUNDA, UNDER
THE DOME OF THE CAPITAL.
ON THE PLATFORM THAT WAS MADE IN
1865 TO HOLD THE CASKET OF 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND JOHN LEWIS.
THEY HAD CONNECTIONS.
INCIDENTALLY THEY WERE BOTH 
WONDERFUL, SPIRITUAL AND 
SAINTLY, BUT THEY WERE BOTH VERY
GOOD POLITICIANS.
THINK OF JOHN LEWIS THAT WAY.
HE ALWAYS WAS ABOUT A MORE 
PERFECT UNION, AND HE WAS ALWAYS
ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY YOU REFERENCE THE 
ARTICLE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES,"
HIS MESSAGE THAT WOULD BE 
DELIVERED AT THIS TIME AS HE 
LEFT US WAS ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE SAYS TO THEM, TOGETHER YOU 
CAN REDEEM THE WORLD.
TOGETHER -- ALWAYS PERFECT 
UNION, TOGETHER, ONE NATION, ONE
DESTINY.
AND HE SAYS IN THE ARTICLE, 
ANSWER THE HIGHEST CALLING OF 
YOUR HEART AND STAND UP FOR WHAT
YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN.
WASN'T THAT JUST LIKE JOHN.
WE WERE VERY PROUD TO HAVE HIS 
VOICE IN THE ROTUNDA SPEAKING 
ABOUT ALL HE CARED ABOUT AND 
BELIEVED IN IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL 
WAY STARTING IN TROY.
I STARTED MY REMARKS BY TALKING 
ABOUT THE FLAG THAT WAVED OVER 
THE CAPITAL TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO 
JOHN, HIS PASSAGE.
I WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW, TO 
LET YOU KNOW HOW REVERED HE WAS 
IN CONGRESS.
HE WAS A BIT MISCHIEVOUS.
WHEN HE WOULD SAY LET'S MAKE 
SOME GOOD TROUBLE, HE WOULD HAVE
A TWINKLE IN HIS EYE AND A SPARK
ABOUT IT ALL.
MY COLLEAGUES WILL TELL YOU WHEN
HE COOKED UP HAVING THE SIT-IN 
TO GET THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
TO PUT THE GUN VIOLENCE 
PREVENTION BILL ON THE FLOOR, 
WHEN HE DID THAT AND ALL THE 
MEMBERS FOLLOWED HIM FORWARD, 
COVERED WITH PEOPLE, THOUGHT FOR
A MOMENT THAT PERHAPS THE POLICE
MIGHT -- BECAUSE IT WAS 
DISRUPTIVE, GOOD TROUBLE, IT WAS
CLEAR TO THEM IF THEY WERE TO 
ARREST JOHN LEWIS FOR DOING 
THAT, THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO
ARREST THE ENTIRE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
SO WHEN HE SPOKE, PEOPLE 
LISTENED.
WHEN HE LED, PEOPLE FOLLOWED.
WE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH.
AS HIS OFFICIAL FAMILY, WE MOURN
HIM GREATLY.
HE SHARED SO MUCH THAT HIS LOVE 
FOR HIS DISTRICT, HIS FAMILY.
THE SADNESS WHEN LILLIAN WAS 
SICK, THE JOY HE HAD WITH 
JOHN-MILES.
AS I SAID, WE SAY GOOD-BYE TO 
THIS PERSON.
OUR LEADER, OUR FRIEND.
SHOULD I SAY HUMOROUS.
HE LOVED TO DANCE.
HE LOVED TO MAKE US LAUGH 
SOMETIMES WHILE HE WAS DANCING.
HE SAID -- MY GRANDDAUGHTER 
BELLA SAID TO HIM, DID YOU EVER 
SING IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS 
MOVEMENT.
HE SAID THEY ASKED ME TO SING 
SOLO ONE TIME.
SO LOW SO THAT NOBODY COULD HEAR
ME.
GETTING BACK TO THAT FLAG WAVING
GOOD-BYE TO THIS PERSON THAT WE 
JUST LOVED PERSONALLY IN EVERY 
WAY, POLITICALLY, TOO.
LAST NIGHT HE WAS AT THE 
CAPITAL.
IT WASN'T RAINING.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE SHOWING
UP TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.
A LITTLE BIT AFTER 8:00 THERE 
WAS A DOUBLE RAINBOW, A DOUBLE 
RAINBOW.
BUT IT HADN'T RAINED.
THERE WAS A DOUBLE RAINBOW OVER 
THE CASKET.
FOR US IT WAS WE WAVED GOOD-BYE 
WHEN HE STARTED TO LEAVE US.
HE WAS TELLING US -- HE WAS 
TELLING US I'M HOME IN HEAVEN.
I'M HOME IN HEAVEN WITH LILLIAN.
WE ALWAYS KNEW HE WORKED ON THE 
SIDE OF THE ANGELS, AND NOW HE 
IS WITH THEM.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> PASTOR, SISTERS AND BROTHERS,
MEMBERS OF THIS LEWIS FAMILY 
THAT SO WONDERFULLY NURTURED 
JOHN IN LOVE, HOPE, COURAGE, 
FAITH AND THE REST OF IT.
SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
A POLISH CATHOLIC POET SETS THE 
TONE WITH ME AND JOHN LEWIS AS 
JOURNEY FROM THE ETERNITY OF 
THIS EXTRAORDINARY MYSTERIOUS 
HUMAN RACE INTO THE ETERNITY 
THAT NONE OF US KNOW VERY MUCH 
ABOUT.
WHEN HE WROTE THIS CALLED 
"MEANING."
WHEN I DIE, I WILL SEE THE 
LINING OF THE WORLD, THE OTHER 
SIDE BEYOND BIRD MOUNTAIN SUN 
SET.
THE TRUE MEANING READY TO BE 
DECODED, WHAT NEVER ADDED UP 
WILL NOW ADD UP.
WHAT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE WILL 
NOW BE COMPREHENDED.
AND IF THERE IS NO LINING TO THE
WORLD, IF A THRUSH ON A BRANCH 
IS NOT A SIGN BUT JUST A THRUSH 
ON A BRANCH, IF NIGHT AND DAY 
MAKE NO SENSE FOLLOWING EACH 
OTHER AND ON THIS EARTH THERE IS
NOTHING BUT THE EARTH, EVEN IF 
THAT IS SO, THERE WILL REMAIN A 
WORD WAKENED BY THE LIPS THAT 
PERISH, A TIRELESS MESSENGER WHO
RUNS AND RUNS THROUGH 
INTERSTELLAR PLACES, GALAXIES 
AND CALLS OUT AND PROTESTS AND 
SCREAMS.
I SUBMIT JOHN IN THAT OTHER 
ETERNITY WILL BE HEARD BY US 
AGAIN AND AGAIN RUNNING THROUGH 
THE GALAXIES, STILL PROCLAIMING 
THAT WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE USA, 
CAN ONE DAY LIVE UP TO THE FULL 
MEANING OF "WE HOLD THESE 
TRUTHS."
LIVE UP TO THE FULL MEANING "WE,
THE PEOPLE OF THE USA, IN ORDER 
TO PERFECT A MORE PERFECT 
UNION."
JOHN LEWIS PRACTICED NOT THE 
POLITICS THAT WE CALL 
BIPARTISAN.
JOHN LEWIS PRACTICED THE 
POLITICS THAT WE, THE PEOPLE, OF
THE U.S. NEED MORE DESPERATELY 
THAN EVER BEFORE, THE POLITICS 
OF THE DECLARATION OF 
INDEPENDENCE.
THE POLITICS OF THE PREAMBLE TO 
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES.
I'VE READ MANY OF THE SO-CALLED 
SEVERAL RIGHTS BOOKS OF THE LAST
50 OR 60 YEARS ABOUT THE PERIOD 
BETWEEN 1953 AND 1973, MOST OF 
THE BOOKS ARE WRONG ABOUT JOHN 
LEWIS.
MOST OF THE BOOKS ARE WRONG 
ABOUT HOW JOHN GOT ENGAGED IN 
THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN 1959, 
'60.
THIS IS THE 60 YEAR A CAMPAIGN 
WHICH SWEPT INTO EVERY STATE OF 
THE UNION, LARGELY MANNED BY 
STUDENTS BECAUSE WE RECRUITED 
STUDENTS, BUT PUT UP ON THE MAP 
THAT THE NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE 
BEGAN IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, 
WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, BUT AS 
MARTIN KING JR. CALLED IT, 
CHRISTIAN LOVE HAS POWER THAT WE
HAVE NEVER TAPPED.
AND IF WE USE IT, WE CAN 
TRANSFORM NOT ONLY OUR OWN LIVES
BUT WE WILL TRANSFORM THE EARTH 
IN WHICH WE LIVE.
I COUNT IT PROVIDENTIAL THAT AS 
I MOVED TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,
DROPPING OUT OF GRADUATE SCHOOL,
IN NASHVILLE CAME PEOPLE LIKE 
ANDREW WHITE, JANATA HAYES AND 
HELEN ROBERTS AND DELORES 
WILKERSON AND JOHN LEWIS AND 
DIANE NASH, C.T. VIVIAN, MARION 
BARRY.
JIM BEVEL, PAULINA KNIGHT, 
ANGELA BUTLER.
HOW ALL OF US GATHERED IN 1958 
AND '59 AND '60, AND '61 AND '62
AT THE SAME TIME I COUNT AS 
BEING PROVIDENTIAL.
WE DID NOT PLAN IT.
WE WERE ALL LED THERE.
AND WHEN KELLY MILLER SMITH AND 
THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN 
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MET IN 1968, 
AND WE DETERMINED IF THERE'S 
GOING TO BE A SECOND MAJOR 
CAMPAIGN THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE 
THE EFFICACY OF SOUL FORCE, LOVE
TRUTH, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO 
IT IN NASHVILLE.
SO I PLANNED AS THE STRATEGIST 
AND ORGANIZERS A FOUR-POINT 
STRATEGIC PROGRAM TO CREATE THE 
CAMPAIGN.
WE DECIDED WITH GREAT FEAR AND 
ANTICIPATION WE WOULD 
DESEGREGATE DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE.
NO GROUP OF BLACK PEOPLE OR 
OTHER PEOPLE ANYWHERE IN THE 
UNITED STATES IN THE 20th 
CENTURY AGAINST THE 
RAPACIOUSNESS OF A SEGREGATED 
SYSTEM EVER THOUGHT ABOUT 
DESEGREGATING DOWNTOWN, TEARING 
DOWN THE SIGNS, RENOVATING THE 
WAITING ROOMS, TAKING THE 
IMMORAL SIGNS OFF OF DRINKING 
FOUNTAINS.
IT WAS BLACK WOMEN WHO MADE THAT
DECISION FOR US IN NASHVILLE.
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH WHEN WE 
MADE THAT DECISION.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HOW WE WERE
GOING TO DO THIS.
I HAD NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, BUT 
WE PLANNED THE STRATEGY.
JOHN LEWIS DID NOT STUMBLE IN ON
THAT CAMPAIGN, KELLY MILLER 
SMITH, HIS TEACHER AT ABC, 
INVITED JOHN TO JOIN THE 
WORKSHOPS IN THE FALL OF 1959 AS
WE PREPARED OURSELVES TO FACE 
VIOLENCE AND TO DO ACTION AND TO
PUT ON THE MAP THE ISSUE THAT 
THE RACISM AND SEGREGATION OF 
THE NATION HAD TO END.
AND SO ON THE 60th ANNIVERSARY, 
WHICH BECAME THE SECOND MAJOR 
CAMPAIGN OF THE NONVIOLENT 
MOVEMENT AMERICA, THOSE ARE NOT 
MY WORDS, JOHN LEWIS CALLED WHAT
WE DID BETWEEN 1953 AND 1973 THE
NONVIOLENT MOVEMENT OF AMERICA.
NOT THE CRM.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET THE STORY
STRAIGHT, BECAUSE WORDS ARE 
POWERFUL.
HISTORY MUST BE WRITTEN IN SUCH 
A FASHION THAT IT LIFTS UP TRULY
THE SPIRIT OF THE JOHN LEWISES 
OF THE WORLD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND THAT'S WHY I'VE CHOSEN JUST 
TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT IT.
KELLY MILLER SMITH INVITED JOHN 
LEWIS.
I MET A STUDENT WHO TOLD ME 
ABOUT A STUDENT FROM SHIHO 
WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT 
THOSE VICIOUS SIGNS.
I SAID, INVITE DIANE NASH TO THE
WORKSHOP IN SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE 
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING 
ABOUT THOSE SIGNS.
I PUSHED.
NOW, JOHN LEWIS HAD NO CHOICE IN
THE MATTER.
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
BECAUSE ALL THE STORIES WE'VE 
HEARD THIS MORNING OF JOHN 
BECOMING A PREACHER, PREACHING 
TO THE CHICKENS AND ALL SORTS OF
THINGS, BECOMING ORDAINED AS A 
BAPTIST MINISTER, SOMETHING ELSE
WAS HAPPENING TO JOHN IN THOSE 
EARLY YEARS.
JOHN SAW THE MALIGNANCY OF 
RACISM IN TROY, ALABAMA.
THERE FORMED IN HIM A 
SENSIBILITY THAT HE HAD TO DO 
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, 
BUT HE WAS CONVINCED THAT HE WAS
CALLED, INDEED, TO DO WHATEVER 
HE COULD DO, GET IN GOOD 
TROUBLE, BUT STOP THE HORROR 
THAT SO MANY FOLK LIVED THROUGH 
AND IN IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THAT 
PART OF THE 20th CENTURY.
JOHN WAS NOT ALONE.
MARTIN KING HAD THE SAME 
EXPERIENCE AS A BOY.
I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE FROM 
AGE FOUR IN THE STREETS OF OHIO.
MATTHEW McCOLLUM, A MAN WHOSE 
NAME YOU DON'T KNOW HAD THE SAME
EXPERIENCE.
C.T. VIVIAN HAD THE SAME 
EXPERIENCE.
I MAINTAIN THAT MANY OF US HAD 
NO CHOICE TO DO BUT WE TRIED TO 
DO PRIMARILY BECAUSE AT AN EARLY
AGE WE RECOGNIZED THE WRONG 
UNDER WHICH WE WERE FORCED TO 
LIVE AND WE SWORE TO GOD THAT BY
GOD'S GRACE WE WOULD DO WHATEVER
WHATEVER GOD CALLED US TO DO TO 
PUT ON THE TABLE OF THE NATION'S
AGENDA, THIS MUST END.
BLACK LIVES MATTER!
[ APPLAUSE ]
SO BETWEEN 1953 AND 1973, WE HAD
MAJOR, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE 
SUPPORTED IT.
WE HAD FOLK IN THE CONGRESS, 
FOLK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, FOLKS 
SCATTERED ACROSS THE UNITED 
STATES THAT WERE BEGINNING TO 
FORMULATE WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE
FOR CHANGE.
THE MEDIA MAKES A MISTAKE WHEN 
JOHN IS ONLY SEEN AS THE VOTING 
RIGHTS BILL OF 1965.
HOWEVER IMPORTANT THAT IS, YOU 
MUST REMEMBER IN THE '60s, THE 
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 
PASSED THE MOST ADVANCED 
LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF WE, THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, 
THAT WAS EVER PASSED.
HEAD START.
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR HOUSING.
WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE STRUGGLE 
WE ARE WITH HOUSING IF PRESIDENT
REAGAN HADN'T CUT THAT BILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS FOR HOUSING WHERE 
LOCAL CHURCHES AND LOCAL 
NONPROFITS COULD BUILD 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR OWN 
COMMUNITIES BEING SUSTAINED AND 
FINANCED BY LOANS FROM THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE PASSED MEDICARE.
WE PASSED ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS.
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL 64, '65, 
VOTING RIGHTS BILLS.
A WHOLE ARRAY.
JOHN LEWIS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AS
ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE 
GREATEST IN WHITE HOUSE ON 
BEHALF OF WE, THE PEOPLE, OF THE
USA.
WE DO NOT NEED BIPARTISAN 
POLITICS IF WE'RE GOING TO 
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF JOHN 
LEWIS.
WE NEED THE CONSTITUTION TO COME
ALIVE.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE 
SELF-EVIDENT.
WE NEED THE CONGRESS AND THE 
PRESIDENTS TO WORK UNFALTERING 
ON BEHALF OF EVERY BOY AND EVERY
GIRL SO THAT EVERY BABY BORN IN 
THESE SHORES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
THE TREE OF LIFE.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO HONOR 
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS.
NO OTHER WAY.
LET ALL OF US IN THIS SERVICE 
TODAY, LET ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE
USA DETERMINE THAT WE WILL NOT 
BE QUIET AS LONG AS ANY CHILD 
DIES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE 
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE WILL NOT BE QUIET AS LONG AS 
THE LARGEST POVERTY GROUP IN OUR
NATION ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
WE WILL NOT BE QUIET AS LONG AS 
OUR NATION CONTINUES TO BE THE 
MOST VIOLENT CULTURE IN THE 
HISTORY OF HUMAN KIND.
WE WILL NOT BE QUIET AS LONG AS 
OUR ECONOMY IS SHAPED NOT BY 
FREEDOM BUT BY PLANTATION 
CAPITALISM THAT CONTINUES TO 
CAUSE DOMINATION AND CONTROL 
RATHER THAN ACCESS AND LIBERTY 
AND EQUALITY FOR ALL.
THE FORCES OF SPIRITUAL 
WICKEDNESS ARE STRONG IN OUR 
LAND BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORY.
WE HAVE NOT CREATED THEM.
JOHN LEWIS DID NOT CREATE THEM.
WE INHERITED THEM.
BUT IT'S OUR TASK TO SEE THOSE 
SPIRITUAL FORCES.
I HAVE NAMED THEM RACISM, 
SEXISM, VIOLENCE, PLANTATION 
CAPITALISM.
THOSE POISON STILL DOMINATE FAR 
TOO MANY OF US IN MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS.
JOHN'S LIVE WAS A SINGULAR 
JOURNEY FROM BIRTH THROUGH THE 
CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTH THROUGH 
CONGRESS TO GET US TO SEE THAT 
THESE FORCES OF WICKEDNESS MUST 
BE RESISTED.
DO NOT LET OUR OWN HEARTS DRINK 
ANY OF THAT POISON.
INSTEAD DRINK THE TRUTH OF THE 
LIFE FORCE IF WE WOULD HONOR AND
CELEBRATE JOHN LEWIS'S LIFE.
LET US THEN RECOMMIT OUR SOULS, 
OUR MINDS, OUR HEARTS, OUR 
BODIES, OUR STRENGTH TO THE 
CONTINUING JOURNEY TO DISMANTLE 
THE WRONG IN OUR MIDST, TO ALLOW
THE SPACE FOR THE NEW EARTH AND 
NEW HEAVEN TO EMERGE.
I CLOSE WITH THIS PEOPLE FROM 
LANGSTON
LANGSTON, A SIGN AND SYMBOL OF 
WHAT JOHN LEWIS REPRESENTS, WHAT
WE, TOO, CAN REPRESENT IN OUR 
CONTINUING JOURNEY.
LANGSTON HUGHES, I DREAM A WORLD
WHERE NO HUMAN, NO OTHER HUMAN 
WILL SCORN, WHERE LOVE WILL 
BLESS THE EARTH AND PEACE ITS 
PATHS ADORN.
I DREAM A DREAM WHERE ALL WILL 
KNOW SWEET FREEDOM'S WAY, WHERE 
GREED NO LONGER SAPS THE SOUL 
NOR AVARICE LIGHTS OUR DAY.
A WORLD I DREAM WHERE BLACK AND 
WHITE AND YELLOW AND BLUE AND 
GREEN AND RED AND BROWN, 
WHATEVER YOUR RACE MAY BE WILL 
SHARE THE BOUNTIES OF THE EARTH,
AND EVERY WOMAN AND MAN AND BOY 
AND GIRL IS FREE, WHERE 
WRETCHEDNESS HANGS ITS HEAD AND 
JOY, LIKE A PEARL, ATTENDS THE 
NEED OF ALL HUMAN KIND, OF SUCH 
A WORLD I DREAM.
CELEBRATE LIFE.
DREAM AND LABOR FOR AN ATLANTA 
AND LOS ANGELES AND THE UNITED 
STATES AND A WORLD THAT IS TO 
CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT AND THE 
HEART AND THE MIND AND THE SOUL 
OF JOHN LEWIS AND TO WALK WITH 
HIM THROUGH THE GALAXIES.
SEEKING EQUALITY, LIBERTY, 
JUSTICE AND THE BELOVED 
COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> THREE LIVING PRESIDENTS WITH
US TODAY, WE HAVE HEARD FROM YET
ANOTHER, TO THE FRIENDS AND 
FAMILY OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS, ROSALYNN JOINS ME IN 
SENDING OUR CONDOLENCES TO ALL 
GATHER TODAY TO MOURN THE LOSS 
OF ONE OF OUR NATION'S GREAT 
LEADERS.
THROUGHOUT HIS REMARKABLE LIFE 
JOHN HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO 
COUNTLESS PEOPLE, AND WE ARE 
PROUD TO BE AMONG THOSE WHOSE 
LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED.
WHILE HIS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE 
ENJOYED BY ALL AMERICANS, WE 
GEORGIANS KNOW HIM AS A 
NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, AND 
REPRESENTATIVE.
HIS ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE AN INSPIRATION 
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN OUR 
HEARTS AND PRAYERS DURING THIS 
DIFFICULT TIME.
WE HOPE YOUR WARM MEMORIES AND 
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF YOUR 
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE OF 
COMFORT TO YOU IN THE DAYS 
AHEAD.
SINCERELY, JIMMY CARTER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
♪♪
♪ IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY 
AS A PASS ALONG ♪
♪ IF I CAN CHEER SOMEBODY 
WITH A WORD OR SONG ♪
♪ IF I CAN SHOW SOMEBODY 
THAT HE'S TRAVELING WRONG ♪
♪ THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ YES MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY 
AS I PASS ALONG ♪
♪ THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ IF I CAN DO MY DUTY 
AS A CHRISTIAN OUGHT 
IF I CAN BRING BACK BEAUTY 
IN A WORLD UP WROUGHT ♪
♪ IF I COULD SHARE LOVE'S 
MESSAGE 
AS THE MASTER TAUGHT ♪
♪ THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ MY LIVING, YES 
IT SHALL NOT -- SHALL NOT BE IN 
VAIN ♪
♪ IF I COULD HELP SOMEBODY 
IF I COULD HELP SOMEBODY 
AS I PASS ALONG 
THEN MY LIVING 
IT SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
THEN MY LIVING 
IT SHALL NOT 
THEN HIS LIVING, YES 
SHALL NOT -- HALLELUJAH 
HIS LIVING, HIS LIVING 
SHALL NOT 
THEN MY LIVING 
SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN ♪
♪ HIS LIVING SHALL NOT BE IN 
VAIN ♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
I WANT TO FIRST CALL ATTENTION 
TO THE EXCELLENT JOB THE MEDIA 
HAS DONE TO INFORM OF US JOHN 
LEWIS.
HASN'T THE MEDIA BEEN TREMENDOUS
IN KEEPING US INFORMED?
I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH COVERAGE, 
BUT JOHN DESERVED IT.
I WANT TO TALK A MOMENT IN MY 
PRESENTATION ON JOHN BEFORE HE 
BECAME FAMOUS.
I MET JOHN, I CAME TO ATLANTA --
MILES AND I CAME TO ATLANTA ON 
THE SAME DAY.
SHE CAME TO WORK AT ATLANTA 
UNIVERSITY, AND I CAME TO WORK 
FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN 
THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN 
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.
THAT'S WHEN I MET JOHN.
SAW HIM ALL THE TIME.
WE WERE ALL INVOLVED IN THE SAME
QUEST FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN 
THIS AMERICA.
AND I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE HIM 
ALL THE TIME, AND I ADMIRED HIS 
FERVOR AND ALL OF HIS TENACITY.
LILLIAN WAS SINGLE, SO I DECIDED
LILLIAN NEEDED A GOOD MAN.
NOT JUST THE BUMS WHO WERE 
APPROACHING HER.
SHE WAS HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL, 
WELL-TRAVELED, WELL EDUCATED, 
AND I WANTED HER TO HAVE SOMEONE
WHO REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE HER 
SKILLS AND HER TALENT.
SO I LOOKED AROUND AND DECIDED I
LIKE JOHN.
BUT LILLIAN DIDN'T LIKE 
PARTICULARLY.
SHE THOUGHT HE WAS KIND OF SLOW.
BUT I SAID, LILLIAN, HE'S BUSY.
HE'S FIGHTING THE EVILS OF THE 
WORLD.
SHE SAID, YES, BUT -- 
I DECIDED, GIRL, LISTEN, THIS 
BOY IS GOING PLACES, SO LET'S 
SEE WHAT HE CAN DO TO GET THIS 
THING MOVING.
WE DECIDED WHAT I COULD DO AS A 
FRIEND.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO FOR FRIENDS.
YOU HAVE TO HELP THEM OUT.
SO JOHN HAD TO GO TO THE 
HOSPITAL FOR AN EXAMINATION.
I SAID, LILLIAN, THIS WILL BE A 
GOOD MOMENT FOR US TO BE 
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.
SO WE WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE 
AND BOUGHT A BUNCH OF FLOWERS 
AND TOOK THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
I SAID, YOU'LL BE IMPRESSED, 
BECAUSE HE WAS A LITTLE SLOW, 
TOO.
I SAID, WE'LL GO TO THE 
HOSPITAL.
THAT WILL IMPRESS HIM.
HE'LL NOTICE YOU MORE BECAUSE 
YOU BRING HIM FLOWERS WHILE HE'S
IN THE HOSPITAL.
WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THERE
WAS A YOUNG WOMAN ALREADY THERE.
SHE WAS ADJUSTING HIS PILLOW AND
HIS COMFORT AND LILLIAN SAID, 
SHOOT.
I HAD ALREADY ASKED JOHN, JOHN, 
DO YOU HAVE A YOUNG WOMAN WHO 
YOU ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED 
IN?
HE SAID, WELL, NOT REALLY.
I SAID, THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER 
I'M LOOKING FOR.
I WANT A MORE DEFINITIVE ANSWER,
BECAUSE I'VE GOT SOME THINGS IN 
MIND.
YOU KNOW, JOHN WAS JUST SLOW 
ABOUT, WELL, NOT REALLY.
I DECIDED ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, 
LILLIAN WAS SINGLE, AS I SAID, 
AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLANS.
I SAID, I'LL HAVE A DINNER PARTY
AND INVITE THE TWO OF THEM, AND 
MAYBE THAT WILL GIVE US A 
CHANCE -- I WAS KNOWN AS THE ONE
THAT GAVE BIG PARTIES, SO 
LILLIAN THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO 
HAVE A BIG PARTY.
JOHN THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A BIG 
PARTY.
WHEN THEY GOT TO MY HOUSE, THERE
WAS ONLY ROOM FOR THREE OF US.
THE TWO OF THEM AND ME.
AND SO NOW WE'RE DISCUSSING THE 
WILES OF THE WORLD, AND I'M 
HOPING THEY WILL GET CLOSER AND 
CLOSER.
BECAUSE WHEN JOHN DIDN'T HAVE A 
DATE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, I KNEW 
HE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMITMENT.
EVERYBODY HAS A DATE ON NEW 
YEAR'S EVE WITH SOMEBODY 
SOMEWHERE.
I FIGURE, I'M AHEAD OF THE GAME 
NOW.
IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE AND HERE 
I'VE GOT HIM, AND THEN THINGS 
START HAPPENING.
STILL SLOWLY, NOT FAST ENOUGH 
FOR ME, BUT I WAS PATIENT.
AND FINALLY, LILLIAN SAID, I DO 
LIKE HIM.
I SAID, OKAY, I'M READY NOW.
SET A DATE, GOT A DRESS READY, 
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 
WEDDING.
AND SO -- I'M NOT REALLY SURE, I
ASKED JOHN NOT TOO LONG AGO, DID
WE EVER ASK YOU, WOULD YOU TAKE 
HER?
I DON'T THINK HE GOT AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO PROPOSE.
WE JUST HAD A WEDDING.
AND SO NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS 
ARE GOING TO BE OKAY.
WE HAD A BIG WEDDING.
I DID ALL THE PLANNING BECAUSE 
LILLIAN WAS STILL SLOW.
I DID ALL THE PLANNING, ALL THE 
FAMILY CAME, SO WE HAD A 
WEDDING.
NOW THINGS WERE DOING OKAY.
SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE
THE IDEA OF THAT GIRL, LOOKS 
LIKE SHE HAD SOME DESIGNS ON 
JOHN.
I FEEL LIKE, HONEY, DON'T RUN 
AWAY FROM COMPETITION.
WE CAN HANDLE COMPETITION.
WE'LL GET RID OF THAT GIRL SO 
FAST, WE WON'T KNOW WHAT 
HAPPENED TO HER, AND WE DID, AND
THEY GOT MARRIED.
WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THEY 
WERE VERY HAPPY.
WHEN SHE FOUND OUT -- LILLIAN IS
WELL-TRAVELED, WELL EDUCATED, 
BUT SHE ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T LIKE 
POLITICS.
SORRY, PEOPLE, SHE DIDN'T LIKE 
POLITICS.
BUT WHEN JOHN EXPRESSED AN 
INTEREST, LILLIAN GOT IN THERE 
AND BECAME HIS STRONGEST 
SUPPORTER.
SHE DID EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING 
TO MAKE HIS SUCCESSES WORK FOR 
HIM, AND THEY DID.
THEN JOHN-MILES CAME ALONG.
AND HE WAS THE CUTEST LITTLE 
BOY.
AND THEN SHE SAID THEY GAVE ME 
THE HONOR OF BEING HIS GOD 
MATTER.
I SAID, OH, THAT'S NICE.
I'VE HEARD OF GODMOTHER'S, BUT 
WHAT DOES A GODMOTHER DO?
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
SHE SAID, WELL, IF SOMETHING 
HAPPENS TO ME AND JOHN, WE WANT 
YOU TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
I SAID, I'VE GOT TO FEED HIM?
BECAUSE JAN-MILES COULD EAT AS A
KID.
I SAID, GOT TO FEED HIM EVERY 
DAY?
THEY SAID YES, AND THEN SPANK 
HIM WHEN HE ACTS UP.
WELL, I AGREED TO THAT.
BUT JOHN-MILES, DO YOU MIND -- 
JUST STAND UP, JOHN-MILES.
STAND UP.
THERE'S JOHN-MILES NOW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT JOHN-MILES.
I'M 4'11" AND ALMOST 90 YEARS 
OLD.
THERE HE IS AND I'M SUPPOSED TO 
SPANK HIM WHEN HE DOESN'T DO 
RIGHT.
NOW, WHEN I WALK UP TO 
JOHN-MILES TO GIVE HIM A 
SPANKING, I'VE GOT TO GET 
PERMISSION FROM HIM, CAN I SPANK
YOU?
BECAUSE HE'S PRETTY BIG NOW.
BUT I LOVED JOHN-MILES THEN, AND
I LOVE JOHN-MILES NOW.
I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND 
SPANK YOU WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR
NOT.
OKAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BUT LILLIAN AND JOHN STAYED 
MARRIED.
I'LL PUT IT TOGETHER BUT IT 
LASTED 43 YEARS.
THAT'S NOT A BAD RECORD, IS IT?
THEY WERE HAPPY.
LILLIAN GAVE HIM EVERY SUPPORT A
WIFE COULD EVER GIVE A PARTNER.
THEY GAVE LOVE TO JOHN-MILES IN 
THE PROCESS.
JOHN WAS AN UNUSUAL INDIVIDUAL.
AMBASSADOR YOUNG IS SITTING OVER
HERE, AND WE ALL LOVED HIM ALL 
THE TIME.
HIS SINCERITY WAS APPARENT.
HE WORKED HARD.
HE SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO STOP.
I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU 
ANYTHING ABOUT JOHN.
ALL OF YOU KNEW HIM.
ALL OF YOU KNOW HIS FERVOR AND 
HIS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND THE
LOVE HE HAD FOR EVERYBODY.
AND I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE 
JOHN WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, THE 
JOHN WHO CONVINCED US WE KNEW 
THE REAL MAN, BECAUSE HE WAS 
CONSTANT.
BUT I ASKED HIM ONE TIME, JOHN, 
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS BAD 
TROUBLE?
I SAID WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL, 
MY SISTER AND I WERE COURTING, 
EVERY TIME WE WOULD GO OUT ON A 
DATE.
SHE SAID SAY, OKAY, HAVE A GOOD 
TIME, BUT DON'T GET IN NO 
TROUBLE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW SOMETHING ELSE 
BUT THAT TROUBLE WAS NOT GOOD.
BUT JOHN SAID THE GOOD TROUBLE 
IS WHEN YOUR MOTHER SAYS DON'T 
GET IN TROUBLE, FIND A WAY TO 
RIGHT THE WRONGS OF OUR SOCIETY,
AND HE DID A PRETTY DECENT JOB 
OF THAT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND DURING THIS WEEK, JOHN WAS 
ON TELEVISION ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
I LOVE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY -- PEOPLE 
NOT THAT I LIKE YOUNG PEOPLE, SO
I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO A 
GROUP OF KIDS.
I SAID TO THEM, AS YOU'RE 
WATCHING TELEVISION, I WANT YOU 
TO KNOW THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC 
RELATIONS PROGRAM YOU'RE 
WATCHING, THAT'S A STORY OF A 
MAN WHO LIVED THE LIFE THEY ARE 
TALKING ABOUT.
JOHN MADE A DECISION ON THE KIND
OF LIFE HE WAS GOING TO LIVE.
I SAID TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE 
THAT YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF MAKING YOUR LIFE HAVE THE 
MEANING YOU WANT IT TO BE.
YOU CAN EITHER DECIDE TO BE THE 
BANK ROBBER OR THE BANK OWNER.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
THE MAN YOU'RE SEEING ON 
TELEVISION DECIDED THAT HIS LIFE
WAS GOING TO HAVE A QUALITY TO 
IT.
DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AS LONG AS
YOU CAN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN, 
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT JOHN LEWIS 
DID.
WE WON'T FORGET JOHN, BUT I 
WOULD WANT TO TELL YOU, DON'T 
SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THESE 
PRAISES.
DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU READ IN 
THE NEWSPAPERS HOW WONDERFUL HE 
WAS.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MAN HE 
ASKED US TO BE IN OURSELVES, AND
THAT IS BE KIND TO EVERYBODY, 
LOVE EVERYBODY.
SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT.
I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID.
WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND I WANT TO 
ADVISE YOU AND ADMONISH YOU TO 
REALLY GIVE MEANING TO THE JOHN 
WE LOVE, VOTE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> TO JOHN MILES, OBAMA, SPEAKER
PELOSI, MADAM MAYOR, ROMANCE 
8:18 TELLS US, FOR I CONSIDER 
THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PRESENT 
TIME TO NOT BE WORTHY OF THE 
GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED TO
US.
WHEN I MET JOHN LEWIS OUR LIVES 
INTERSECTED.
IN 1960 HE CAME TO MY HOMETOWN, 
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, TO 
PERFORM AT A SMALL BLACK 
COLLEGE, SHAW UNIVERSITY, WHERE 
MY FATHER, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF 
THE NAACP LED NIGHTLY CIVIL 
RIGHTS DEMONSTRATIONS.
AGAIN IN 1963 OUR LIVES 
INTERSECTED BECAUSE MY FATHER 
RETURNED FROM THE MARCH IN 
WASHINGTON AND HE BEGAN RAVING 
ABOUT A SPEAKER, YOUNG JOHN 
LEWIS WHO ELECTROFIED THE CROWD.
IMAGINE WHEN I MET HIM IN 1966 
AS A YOUNG LAW STUDENT, IT WAS A
TRANSCEND ANT MOMENT LIKE 
MEETING A HISTORICAL FIGURE, 
THOMAS JEFFERSON OR BENJAMIN 
FRANKLIN, WHO WROTE THE 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
HERE IS SOMEONE WHO MADE AMERICA
LIVE UP TO THOSE NOBLE WORDS 
ALONG WITH REVEREND KING AND 
REVEREND ABERNATHY AND ANDY 
YOUNG AND JOSEPH LOWRY AND C.T. 
VIVIAN, ANOTHER LION WHO RELOST 
 -- WE LOST ON THE SAME DAY WE 
LOST JOHN LEWIS.
JOHN HAD INTEGRITY, LIKE A HALO.
SOMEHOW TO EVERYONE IN HIS 
ORBIT, MYSELF INCLUDED.
THAT'S THE REASON THE NATION HAS
PAUSED FROM PANDEMIC TO PROTEST 
AND POLITICS TO BID HIM FAIRWELL
TODAY.
EVERY NEWS ORGANIZATION HAS 
HAILED JOHN AS A CIVIL RIGHTS 
HERO, BUT JOHN WAS A WOMEN'S 
RIGHTS HERO, A GAY RIGHTS HERO, 
A SENIOR RIGHTS HERO, A WORKERS 
HERO, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS HERO.
IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE INTRODUCED
THE LEGISLATION TO CREATE THE 
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM,
AND HE FOUGHT THE BIGOTS IN 
CONGRESS FOR 20 YEARS UNTIL HE 
TRIUMPHED AGAINST INSURMOUNTABLE
ODDS.
MONUMENTAL STRUCTURE FOUR YEARS 
AGO.
 WHAT HE SURELY KNEW WOULD BE 
HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE, HE 
SUMMONED THE STRENGTH TO WALK 
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF BLACK 
LIVES PLAZA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
TO EXPRESS HIS SOLIDARITY AND 
SUPPORT FOR THE YOUNG PROTESTERS
WHO HAD BEGUN TO CHANGE AMERICA 
AS JOHN LEWIS DID AS A YOUNG 
MAN.
THEY SAY THAT THE VICTORS WRITE 
HISTORY, SO I DECLARE TODAY THAT
THE HISTORY OF THE 20th CENTURY 
AS IT WAS WRITTEN, JOHN LEWIS 
WILL STAND BESIDES GANDHI AND 
KING AND MANDELA AS ONE OF THE 
GREAT FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF HUMAN 
KIND.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WHILE THE NATION MOURNS A GREAT 
LEADER I WILL MISS THE FRIEND 
THAT ALLOWED ME THE 
EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEGE THAT 
ALLOWED ME TO WALK ALONGSIDE A 
SAINT, ST. LOUIS.
IN THE LAST DAYS OF HIS LIFE, 
WHEN WE BOTH NEW DEATH WAS 
IMMINENT, I DESPERATELY WANTED 
TO TELL JOHN ABOUT HOW MUCH HE 
HAD MEANT TO ME AND THE COUNTRY.
IN A SOLEMN MOMENT HE PULLED ME 
CLOSE AND WHISPERED, EVERYONE 
NEEDS TO VOTE IN DECEMBER.
IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT 
ELECTION EVER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I PROMISED HIM WITH EVERY FIBER 
OF MY BODY I WILL TELL EVERYONE 
IF YOU TRULY WANT TO HONOR THIS 
HUMBLE HERO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU 
VOTE.
FIRST CORINTHIANS TELLS US WHEN
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I HAVE MR. LOUIS' VOICE IN MY 
HEAD AND HE WOULD SAY BE 
PARTICULAR.
MY NAME IS JAMILA THOMPSON AND 
ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF I WOULD 
LIKE TO THANK JOHN MILES AND THE
ENTIRE LEWIS FAMILY FOR THE 
HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF 
SHARING THE CONGRESSMAN AND MRS.
LEWIS WHO WAS HIS PARTNER IN 
LIFE AND IN PUBLIC SERVICE WITH 
GENERATIONS OF THE STAFF FOR THE
LAST 33 YEARS IN THE CELEBRATION
OF HIS LIFE AND HIS LEGACY.
THE CONGRESSMAN WOULD WANT ME TO
TELL YOU AS I LOOK AT YOU TODAY 
IN YOUR FAVORITE COLOR THAT YOU 
LOOK GOOD, YOU LOOK FRESH, YOU 
LOOK CLEAN, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.
WE WERE HONORED TO SERVE YOU AND
WE WERE HONORED TO SERVE HIM.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS 
OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, THE MAJORITY 
LEADER, THE MAJORITY WHIP, THE 
CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, THE OFFICE OF 
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE, THE 
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS AND 
ALL OF YOUR AMAZING STAFF FOR 
YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR GUIDANCE 
DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK US WHAT WAS IT
LIKE TO WORK FOR CONGRESSMAN 
LEWIS.
WHAT WAS HE LIKE UP CLOSE?
WHAT WAS HE LIKE IN REAL LIFE?
AND IT IS TOO DIFFICULT TO 
EXPLAIN SO OUR ANSWER WAS ALWAYS
THE SAME, HE'S JUST AS YOU MAY 
IMAGINE, BUT BETTER.
AND THAT NO DAY WAS EVER THE 
SAME.
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 
CONGRESSMAN IS TRUE, HE WAS A 
GENTLEMAN, HE WAS TRULY OF THE 
PEOPLE AND A PEACEFUL SOUL.
WHEN HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE 
EVERY SINGLE DAY HE WOULD GREET 
EVERY STAFFER, EVERY FELLOW, 
EVERY INTERN WITH A GOOD 
MORNING, SIR, OR GOOD MORNING, 
MA'AM.
HE WOULD END EVERY REQUEST, 
EVERY SUCCESSFUL SPEECH, EVERY 
SUCCESSFUL BILL, EVERY HEARING, 
EVERY MARKUP WITH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, YOUNG BROTHER.
THANK YOU, SISTER.
THANK YOU, MY CHILD, OR MY DEAR.
AS STAFF WE FELT IT WAS OUR DO 
YOU TELL JOE TO CREATE AND 
MAINTAIN A SPACE WHERE THE 
CONGRESSMAN COULD BE COMPLETELY 
AND WHOLLY HIMSELF.
IN COLLEGE WE OFTEN SAY THAT 
THERE IS A FRESHMAN THAT YOU 
GAIN A LITTLE BIT AROUND, IN OUR
OFFICE THERE WAS THE JOHN LEWIS 
20 BECAUSE HE AND MICHAEL WOULD 
BRING IN LUNCH AND FAR, FAR TOO 
OFTEN DESSERT, SOME CAKE OR SOME
PIE OR SOME BROWNIE WOULD BE 
CALLING OUT TO THEM IN THE 
GROCERY STORE AND THEY WOULD 
WANT EVERYONE TO COME TOGETHER 
AND SIT DOWN AND SHARE A MEAL.
WE WERE A LITTLE FAMILY, A 
LITTLE ENCLAVE.
A LOT OF DRAMA.
A LOT OF FUN AND SO MUCH LOVE.
HE BROKE DOWN THOSE WORK 
BARRIERS AND HE WELCOMED OUR 
PARENTS, OUR SPOUSES, OUR 
CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR
NIECES AND NEPHEWS, OUR GOD 
CHILDREN AND OUR FRIENDS INTO 
THE CIRCLE, MAKING THEM FALL 
EQUALLY IN AWE OF HIS GREATNESS.
SOMETIMES THE WORLD GOT A LITTLE
GLIMPSE OF OUR NEST DURING THESE
IMPROMPTU GATHERINGS AND CERTAIN
VIDEOS MAY GO VIRAL.
WE WERE LIKE A WELL-OILED 
MACHINE WHEN IT CAME TO POLICY 
AND CASEWORK.
ALTHOUGH WE WERE LIKE THAT IN 
PUBLIC, HE ENJOYED STIRRING 
THINGS UP IN THE OFFICE.
YOU MIGHT CALL HIM A LITTLE BIT 
OF AN INSTIGATOR.
HE WOULD GET US IN TROUBLE WITH 
MICHAEL, TRY TO CORNER US WITH 
QUESTIONS AND STIR THINGS UP, 
AND WITH TIME YOU KNEW NOT TO 
TAKE THE BAIT AND YOU WOULD 
LEARN TO SAY, OH, NO 
CONGRESSMAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
GET ME TODAY, AND HE WOULD 
LAUGH.
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M 
GOING TO MISS THE MOST, I'M 
GOING TO MISS HIS LAUGH.
AND NOT THE ONE THAT YOU SEE ON 
TELEVISION, YOU KNOW, BUT THE 
ONE WHERE HE WOULD BE SITTING 
BACK AND SHOOTING THE WIND AND 
HE WOULD THROW BACK HIS HEAD AND
HE WOULD JUST LAUGH FROM HIS 
HEART, FROM HIS BELLY, FROM HIS 
SOUL.
SO MANY WORKERS ARE OFTEN TAUGHT
TO BE INVISIBLE, BUT WITH MR. 
LEWIS HE ALWAYS SAW YOU AND MADE
YOU FEEL SPECIAL AND WORTHY.
DR. KING AND ROSA PARKS SPENT 
TIME WITH HIM AS A TEENAGER AND 
IT CHANGED THE COURSE OF HIS 
LIFE SO I BELIEVE THAT HE SPENT 
EVERY WAKING MOMENT PAYING IT 
FORWARD.
HE COULD BE ABSOLUTELY 
EXHAUSTED, BUT STILL TAKE ONE 
MORE PICTURE, SPEND ONE MORE 
MOMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG 
PEOPLE.
THIS MEANT THAT WE WERE ALWAYS, 
ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SO THE VERY FIRST LESSON IN 
STAFFING THE CONGRESSMAN WAS TO 
LEARN TO OPERATE ON JOHN LEWIS 
TIME, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO 
LATE, BUT TRUSTING THAT IT WOULD
ALWAYS WORK OUT.
AS HE TOLD EVERYONE, HE COULD 
OUTWALK THE ENTIRE STAFF AND SO 
OUR DUTY WAS TO KEEP UP.
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO MOVE, WE 
DID, BUT WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BE 
PRESENT, AND THE CONGRESSMAN 
NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF QUIET, WE
WOULD TRY TO CREATE THAT SPACE.
HE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO APPRECIATE
AND ABSORB THE MAJESTY OF THE 
MOMENT FOR HIS OWN MENTAL 
ARCHIVES.
JUST AS WE TRY TO PRESERVE THE 
SANCTITY OF HIS SPACE, HE 
ALLOWED US TO BE OUR TRUE AND 
AUTHENTIC SELVES, JUST THE VERY 
BEST VERSION.
HE FOUND STAFF WHO WERE UNIQUE 
AND I THINK REPRESENTED EITHER A
LITTLE BIT OF HIS PERSONALITY OR
WHAT HE NEEDED TO COMPLEMENT IT.
WE MADE OUR WAYS TO MR. LEWIS 
THROUGH VERY RANDOM PATHS, 
COINCIDENCES, SOME STRATEGIES 
FOR OTHERS, AND FOR BELIEVERS 
THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION.
HE DIDN'T HIRE BASED ON A 
RESUMÉ, BUT YOUR ENERGY, YOUR 
BEING, YOUR ESSENCE, YOUR 
PASSION AND YOUR POTENTIAL.
WE WERE A GROUP OF MUSICIANS, 
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, 
PHOTOGRAPHERS, DANCERS, SOCIAL 
WORKERS, ENTERTAINERS, ARTISTS, 
HISTORIANS AND EVERY ONCE IN 
AWHILE AN ACTUAL LAWYER OR A 
POLITICAL SCIENTIST.
HE GOT ALL INTO OUR BUSINESS AND
WAS THERE IN SPIRIT OR IN PERSON
FOR THE BIG MOMENTS.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE ALWAYS 
TOOK A CALL FROM MRS. LEWIS OR 
JOHN-MILES HE LET US DROP 
EVERYTHING IN A FAMILY EMERGENCY
AND GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE
FOND MEMORIES OF HANGING OUT IN 
HIS OFFICE AS THEIR PARENTS 
WORKED NEARBY.
HE LET US BE OURSELVES, 
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO CIVIC
PARTICIPATION.
HE LET US ORGANIZE, PROTEST, 
TESTIFY AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS, 
ALWAYS VOTE.
WE TRIED TO ABSORB HIS ENERGY 
AND HIS LESSONS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE THREE STAFF 
SERVED HIM FOR OVER 20 YEARS, 
RUTH BERG, KUWARI BUTLER AND 
FIRST COUSIN MICHAEL COLLINS.
MAY YOU PLEASE STAND.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND THERE IS A WHOLE GENERATION 
OF STAFF WHO ARE RIGHT BEHIND 
THEM AT 19, AT 15, AT 17, AT 12,
AT 10 YEARS AND 14 YEARS.
RUTH RILEY, BRENDA JONES, JARED 
McKENLEY, MICHELLE O'NEAL AND 
THEN THERE ARE THE STAFFERS WHO 
COULD NEVER REALLY LEAVE LIKE 
LINDA CHASTAIN AND JACOB GILL A 
SON WHO HE KEPT PULLING BACK IN 
AS FRIENDS AND CONFIDANTS.
ALTHOUGH SOME OF YOU AND SOME 
PEOPLE MOVED ON, YOU COULDN'T 
REALLY BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT WAS IN
YOU FOREVER.
HIS VOICE IS ALWAYS IN OUR HEAD.
BE KIND.
BE MINDFUL.
BE PARTICULAR.
MAKE IT PLAIN, MAKE IT SIMPLE, 
MAKE IT SING.
WORKING FOR HIM WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF A NIGHTMARE SOMETIMES BECAUSE
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE WORKED, HE
ALWAYS WORKED HARDER.
EVERY SINGLE DAY HE WOKE UP AT 
THE CRACK OF DAWN, WATCHED THE 
NEWS AND READ THE NEWSPAPERS.
HIS MEMORY WAS LIKE A LIVING 
ENCYCLOPEDIA, WHICH MEANS HE 
FORGOT NOTHING AND COULD PULL 
SOMETHING BACK FROM TEN YEARS 
AGO BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS THE 
SAME STAFF AND WE WERE STILL 
THERE.
HE EXPECTED US TO BE INFORMED 
WITH FACTS FROM PRIMARY SOURCES,
NOT HEARSAY.
WHEN HE WALKED INTO THE OFFICE 
HE WOULD ASK WHAT CONSTITUENTS 
WERE CALLING AND WRITING ABOUT 
AND ADD THAT INFORMATION TO HIS 
ENDLESS ARCHIVES.
YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY OR THE 
SUBTLE WAY, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT 
DIRECT, THAT WHEN HE ASKED YOU A
QUESTION HE USUALLY KNEW THE 
ANSWER, BUT WANTED TO SEE 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD 
REPRESENT HIM AND HIS 
CONSTITUENTS.
WHEN PREPARING FOR A BIG VOTE OR
A BIG SPEECH, HE WOULD DROP A 
SUBTLE HINT, HAVE YOU READ THIS 
POEM, THIS SPEECH, A BOOK, SOME 
SCRIPTURE?
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS PAINTING?
AND THEN HE WOULD SAY, LET'S 
COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT 
LATER ON.
THIS LITTLE HINT WOULD PREPARE 
YOU FOR THE AFTERMATH OF THOSE 
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS THAT HE HAD 
WITH HIMSELF AND AFTER THOSE 
SESSIONS WE WOULD LEARN HOW AND 
IN WHICH DIRECTION THE SPIRIT 
MOVED HIM.
AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE OUR 
MARCHING ORDERS.
HE WOULD TAKE THE ESSENCE OF A 
COMPLICATED POLICY AND MAKE IT 
ACCESSIBLE AND REAL TO THE 
PEOPLE.
THE CONGRESSMAN LOVED SERVING ON
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
HE ALWAYS SHOWED UP AND HE HATED
TO MISS VOTES ON THE FLOOR.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, HE COULD 
NOT STAND TO MISS VOTES.
THE VOICE MESSAGES THAT I HAVE 
FROM HIM OF THE VOTES HE WAS 
ABOUT TO MISS ARE STILL ON MY 
PHONE TO THIS DAY.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE SO
THANKFUL THAT CONGRESSMAN KILDEE
AND HIS STAFF WERE WILLING TO 
SERVE AND TO HELP US CAST HIS 
BALLOTS DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND
TO SERVE AS HIS PROXY.
THE CONGRESSMAN WOULD WALK THE 
HALLS OR SIT IN COMMITTEE OR SIT
IN THE OFFICE AND HE LOVED THE 
BEAUTY OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.
HE LOVED ITS CLOSENESS TO THE 
PEOPLE AND THE COMPLICATED 
REFLECTION OF THE STATUS OF OUR 
NATION.
EVERY VISITOR TO OUR OFFICE 
RECEIVED A FULL DOSE OF SOUTHERN
HOSPITALITY, THE OFFER OF A 
GEORGIA COKE, SOME PEANUTS, A 
BRIEF TOUR OF HIS OFFICE AND 
SOMETIMES ON OUR BELOVED BALCONY
WITH ITS STUNNING VIEW OF THE 
U.S. CAPITOL.
WHILE HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY AND 
ALL ITS PEOPLE THE RECORD SHOULD
BE CLEAR ON HIS IMMENSE PRIDE IN
REPRESENTING GEORGIA'S FIFTH 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HE WAS SO PROUD SO REPRESENT 
METRO ATLANTA AND ALL OF ITS 
CITIES, ALL OF ITS COUNTIES AND 
ALL OF ITS PEOPLE.
HE WAS ON A MISSION TO SERVE, TO
MAKE THEM FEEL HEARD, RESPECTED 
AND REPRESENTED, REGARDLESS OF 
WHERE THEY FELL ON THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM.
THE CONSTITUENTS WERE OUR 
COMPASS AND CONGRESSMAN LEWIS 
WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO FIND 
SOLUTIONS TO THEIR CHALLENGES.
WHEN IT CAME TO PUBLIC SERVICE 
AND PUBLIC POLICY, HIS NAME DID 
NOT NEED TO BE ON THE HEADLINES 
OR ON THE FRONT LINES, IT WAS 
THE ACTION AND THE RESULTS THAT 
MATTERED.
NOT EVERY PROBLEM NEEDS A BILL.
AND HE COULD ALWAYS FIND 
COMPROMISE WITHOUT COMPROMISING 
HIS VALUES OR HIS PRINCIPLES 
WHEN THE CHALLENGE PRESENTED 
ITSELF.
HE PLAYED THE LONG GAME AND HE 
KNEW EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK AND
HE EXPECTED THE STAFF TO FIGHT 
IN A NONVIOLENT MANNER FOR THE 
PEOPLE.
WHEN CONSTITUENTS WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE RIGHT OF SOVIET JURY 
HE TOOK ACTION, WHEN FACED WITH 
INEQUALITY IN HEALTH SERVICES HE
ADVANCED TECHNICAL CHANGES TO 
REDUCE THE COST AND INCREASE 
SERVICES TO LIFESAVING CARE, 
ESPECIALLY FOR THE ISSUES THAT 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, 
LIKE KIDNEY DISEASE AND COPD.
WHEN WORKERS FACED PENSIONS 
ISSUES HE FOUND WAYS TO GIVE 
THEM SECURITY.
WHEN FAMILIES WERE SEPARATED BY 
IMMIGRATION POLICIES, HE WORKED 
AROUND THE CLOCK TO REUNITE 
THEM.
WHEN PEOPLE COULDN'T GET THEIR 
SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS HE FOUGHT
AND SOMETIMES FOR YEARS TO MAKE 
THAT HAPPEN.
WHEN TAXPAYERS AND WORKERS 
STRUGGLED WITH AN OUTDATED 
BUREAUCRACY OF THE IRS HE WORKED
TO MODERNIZE THE ENTIRE AGENCY.
WHEN HE HEARD FROM FRUSTRATED 
VETERANS HE FOUGHT FOR THEIR 
RESPECT, THEIR EARNED BENEFITS 
AND THEIR CARE.
WHEN HE SAW AN ALARMING INCREASE
IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS HE 
DEVELOPED STRATEGIES TO STOP THE
CYCLE BEFORE IT BEGAN.
WHEN SOME TRIED TO ELIMINATE THE
U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE HE FOUND
A WAY AND BUILT A COALITION TO 
KEEP THAT BUILDING AND THE 
PROSPECT AND THE HOPE OF PEACE 
STILL ALIVE.
WHEN HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE 
STATE OF OUR GLOBE FOR 
GENERATIONS YET UNBORN, HE 
INTRODUCED THE ENVIRONMENTAL 
JUSTICE ACT.
WHEN LOOKING AT THE RIGHTS OF 
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AROUND 
THE WORLD HE WORKED TO DIVERSIFY
THE FACE OF OUR DIPLOMACY AND 
INSERT EMPATHY AND STANDARDS TO 
OUR GLOBAL POLICIES.
AND WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT
IMMOVABLE LINES TO WROTE, HE 
CO-WROTE THE VOTER EMPOWERMENT 
ACT.
THE LIST IS TOO LONG TO 
RECOGNIZE HIS LEGISLATIVE AND 
POLICY SUCCESSES AND THE IMPACT 
THAT HE HAS ON PEOPLE ACROSS THE
NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.
SO I ASK YOU AS WE SIT IN THIS 
HISTORIC SPACE AND AS YOU DRIVE 
THROUGH METRO ATLANTA AND YOU 
FEEL AND YOU SEE THE GREATNESS 
OF HIS LEGACY, HISTORIC 
PRESERVATION AND CIVIC 
EDUCATION, I ASK THAT YOU HOLD 
THAT IN YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL
AND YOUR SPIRIT.
HE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW 
AND STUDY OUR HISTORY TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WE NEVER REPEATED IT.
HE WAS BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE.
IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN 
THE MAGNITUDE, THE GENIUS, THE 
GENTLE GRACE OF THIS MAN.
I WOULD ASK AT THIS MOMENT FOR 
THE STAFF TO TAKE A STAND, 
PLEASE.
SO THAT YOU CAN SEE AND KNOW 
JUST A SAMPLE OF WHO WE ARE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A REUNION
AND WE REALIZED THAT THERE 
AREN'T THAT MANY STAFF.
WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERNS AND A 
LOT OF FELLOWS, BUT THE 
CONGRESSMAN HELD US CLOSE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE 
MANY OFFICES WHERE YOU HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD YOUR BOSS' 
HAND AND TO ADJUST HIS TIE AND 
TO TELL EVERY PERSON THAT YOU 
LOVE THEM.
HE CREATED THIS SPACE.
HE CREATED THIS FAMILY.
AS A STAFF WE ARE HEARTBROKEN.
WE ARE LOST.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THE WORK 
CONTINUES.
THE FIGHT REMAINS AND WE CANNOT,
WE MUST NOT GET LOST IN A SEA OF
DESPAIR.
SO IF ASKED HOW YOU MAY HONOR 
THE CONGRESSMAN, I WILL ECHO THE
WORDS OF THE GREATS WHO STOOD 
HERE BEFORE.
YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT HIS WORK,
HIS SACRIFICE, HIS MESSAGE LIVES
ON AND THAT THERE ARE ACTIONS 
THAT EVERY PERSON CAN DO 
REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE OR THEIR
STATION IN LIFE.
BE KIND.
BE MINDFUL.
RECOGNIZE THE DIGNITY AND THE 
WORTH OF EVERY HUMAN BEING.
BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF.
BE INFORMED.
STAY ENGAGED.
EVEN THOUGH THE WORK IS HARD.
AND IF YOU ARE OF AGE AND 
ELIGIBLE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, 
PLEASE VOTE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS SHEILA O'BRIEN AND I 
AM THE SIXTH NIECE OF 
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS.
TO EACH DISTINGUISHED GUEST, 
MEMBER OF CLERGY, FAMILY AND 
FRIENDS, ON BEHALF OF THE LEWIS 
FAMILY WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY 
THANK YOU FROM THE VERY DEPTHS 
OF OUR HEARTS FOR THE OUTPOUR OF
LOVE, SUPPORT, WORDS OF 
ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRAYER.
THE HONOR, THE RESPECT, THE 
CAMARADERIE THAT HAS BEEN 
BESTOWED UPON THE LEWIS FAMILY 
WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A HEARTFELT 
THANKS TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF 
MICHAEL COLLINS WHO HAS NOW 
BECOME FIRST COUSIN, AND TO EACH
STAFF MEMBER -- 
[ APPLAUSE ]
-- AND TO EACH STAFF MEMBER THAT
HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH AND 
FOR CONGRESSMAN LEWIS, 
ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME.
WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO EXPRESS 
HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR ALL THAT
YOU HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY FOR 
OUR COULD SAYEN JOHN-MILES.
I AM HERE TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE 
TO A MAN THAT WAS LARGER THAN 
LIFE.
TO THE WORLD HE IS KNOWN AS THE 
HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS, BUT TO HIS SIBLINGS HE IS
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ROBERT.
AND TO HIS MANY NIECES AND 
NEPHEWS, HE IS KNOWN AS UNCLE 
ROBERT.
SO IF YOU WOULD PERMIT TO JUST 
CALL HIM UNCLE ROBERT RIGHT NOW,
I WOULD BE GRATEFUL.
UNCLE ROBERT LOVED HIS FAMILY 
AND WE AS YOU CAN TELL LOVED 
HIM.
HE WAS THE SON TO OUR 
GRANDPARENTS EDDIE LEWIS WHO WE 
CALLED GRAND DADDY BUDDY AND 
WILLIE MAE LOUIS WHO WE CALLED 
MA.
HE WAS THE HUSBAND TO ONE WIFE, 
OUR AUNT LILLIAN, THE FATHER TO 
ONE SON, OUR COUSIN JOHN-MILES 
AND THE BROTHER TO A LOT OF 
SIBLINGS, TOO MANY TO NAME RIGHT
NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TIME.
WHILE WE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT HE 
AND HIS WORK WAS TO THE WORLD, 
WHEN WE WERE WITH HIM WE SAW 
UNCLE ROBERT, WE SAW THE MAN 
THAT ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH 
HIS FAMILY, REMINISCING ABOUT 
DAYS GONE BY, CATCHING UP ON 
FAMILY DYNAMICS, ENJOYING A GOOD
MEAL, SHARING LAUGHTER AND LOVE.
WE, LIKE THE WORLD, KNEW THE 
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS THAT 
PERSONIFIED HOPE, COURAGE, 
BRAVERY AND SHEAR 
HUMANITARIANISM.
AS WE ALL KNOW BEFORE HE WAS 
CHOSEN TO CONGRESS, YES, I SAY 
CHOSEN BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD 
TELLS ME THAT MANY ARE CALLED, 
BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.
HIS FIRST CALL WAS TO THAT OF 
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR 
THE LAST 50 YEARS AS A 
NONVIOLENT ACTIVIST HE WAS THE 
VOICE FOR THOSE THAT COULDN'T 
SPEAK, THE FEET FOR THOSE THAT 
COULDN'T WALK AND THE CHAMPION 
OF INJUSTICE FOR THOSE THAT 
COULDN'T FIGHT.
HE ALONG WITH MANY OTHER CIVIL 
RIGHTS ICONS BECAME THE CHANGE 
AGENTS THAT THE WORLD SO 
DESPERATELY NEEDED.
AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS HE WAS 
KNOWN AS THE CONSCIENCE OF 
CONGRESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS HE 
STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE 
FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF 
GEORGIA.
HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED, REVERED 
AND HELD TO THE HIGHEST ESTEEM 
FOR THE WORK HE HAS DONE TO MR. 
A BETTER COMMUNITY.
HE BROKE BARRIERS, FOR DOWN 
WALLS, DEFIED STEREOTYPES AND 
REFUSED TO BE MOVED ON HIS 
STANCE ON INJUSTICE, LIBERTY AND
FREEDOM.
HE MADE TIME FOR EVERYONE AND 
WAS ALWAYS PICTURE READY.
HE DID NOT MISS AN OPPORTUNITY 
FOR A PHOTO OP OR TO JUST TAKE A
FEW MOMENTS TO TALK TO HIS 
CONSTITUENTS OR TO THOSE THAT 
REVERED HIM.
HIS LOVE WAS ON STAGE OUS AND IT
COULD BE FELT EACH TIME YOU WERE
IN HIS PRESENCE.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS 
LISTENING TO THE NUMEROUS 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS SOME OF WHICH HE
LAY BOARD FOR YEARS OVER IT IS 
EVIDENT WHY HIS LIFE IS BEING 
CELEBRATED AT THIS MAGNITUDE.
HE TRULY MADE AN IMPACT NOT JUST
ON AMERICA BUT ON THE WORLD.
SO TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE 
OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, OUR 
UNCLE ROBERT, THE MAN WHO 
LABORED.
THE MAN TO TAUGHT, THE MAN WHO 
WALKED, FOUGHT, KNELT, SAT, HELD
HANDS WITH BOTH BLACKS AND 
WHITES, BLED, LIFTED HIS VOICE, 
BENT HIS KNEES AND WAS WILLING 
TO GIVE UP HIS LIFE FOR A 
RIGHTEOUS CAUSE.
LET'S CONTINUE THIS CELEBRATION 
OF LIFE BY TAKING UP THE BATON 
THAT HE HAS NOW LAID DOWN AND 
ENDEAVOR TO GET INTO TROUBLE.
GOOD TROUBLE.
NECESSARY TROUBLE.
LET'S NOT GIVE UP.
LET'S NOT GIVE IN.
LET'S NEVER GIVE OUT.
LET'S KEEP THE FAITH, KEEP OUR 
EYES ON THE PRIZE, REST IN 
POWER, UNCLE ROBERT, MAY YOUR 
LEGACY LIVE ON AND NEVER DIE.
WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE HEARD THE 
WORDS FROM MY HEAVENLY FATHER.
WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND 
FAITHFUL SERVANT, WELL DONE.
AND I SAY TO ALL OF US, WEEPING 
MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY 
COMES IN THE MORNING.
GUESS WHAT, IT'S MORNING TIME.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> A FEW YEARS AGO CONGRESSMAN 
JOHN LEWIS ATTENDED THE 
INAUGURATION OF AN AMERICAN 
PRESIDENT.
ALTHOUGH HE HAD SEEN MANY 
PRESIDENTS, HE MADE A BEELINE TO
THIS PRESIDENT AND ASKED HIM TO 
SIGN HIS PROGRAM.
HE SIGNED THE PROGRAM IN THIS 
WAY, BECAUSE OF YOU, JOHN.
IT'S MY ESTEEMED HONOR TO 
WELCOME BACK TO THE EBENEZER 
PULPIT THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BARACK
OBAMA.
BUT BEFORE HE COMES, JENNIFER 
HOLIDAY WILL COME ONCE AGAIN.
TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD, 
LEAD ME ON.
♪♪
♪ PRECIOUS LORD ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND ♪
♪ LEAD ME ♪
♪ LET ME STAND ♪
♪ I AM TIRED ♪
♪ I AM WEAK ♪
♪ I AM WORN ♪
♪ THROUGH THE STORM ♪
♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪
♪ LEAD ME ON TO THE LIGHT ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD ♪
♪ AND LEAD ME ON HOME ♪
♪ WHEN MY WAY GROWS ♪
♪ PRECIOUS LORD LINGER NEAR ♪
♪ WHEN MY LIFE ♪
♪ WHEN MY LIFE IS OVER ♪
♪ LORD HEAR MY CRY ♪
♪ HEAR MY CALL ♪
♪ HOLD MY HAND, LORD ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND ♪
♪ PRECIOUS LORD ♪
♪ AND LEAD ME HOME ♪
♪ WHEN THE DARKNESS APPEARS ♪
♪ AND THE NIGHT DRAWS NEAR ♪
♪ AND THE DAY HAS PASSED AND 
GONE ♪
♪ AT THE RIVER ♪
♪ HEY, HEY, HEY ♪
♪ AT THE RIVER I STAND ♪
♪ PLEASE TAKE MY HAND ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD ♪
♪ AND LEAD ME HOME ♪
♪ HEY, HEY, OH, LORD, WE NEED 
YOU RIGHT NOW ♪
♪ WE NEED YOU RIGHT NOW ♪
♪ WE'VE GOT A WORLD UP IN 
SORROW ♪
♪ WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN TOMORROW ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND ♪
♪ HOLD MY LANDLORD ♪
♪ WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO 
GO ♪
♪ YEAH ♪
♪ OH, YEAH ♪
♪ HOLD US IN YOUR ♪
♪ HOLD US IN YOUR ♪
♪ HOLD US IN YOUR HANDS ♪
♪ OH, WE NEED YOU, LORD ♪
♪ WE NEED YOU, LORD, YES, WE 
DO ♪
♪ YES, WE DO ♪
♪ YES, WE DO ♪
♪ TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD ♪
♪ AND LEAD ♪
♪ LORD, WE NEED YOU ♪
♪ LORD, WE NEED YOU RIGHT NOW ♪
♪ OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪
♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> JAMES WROTE TO THE BELIEVERS,
CONSIDER IT PURE JOYS, MY 
BROTHER AND SISTERS, WHENEVER 
YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, 
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE 
TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES 
PERSEVERANCE.
LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK
SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE AND 
COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE BACK 
AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH IN 
THE PULPIT OF ITS GREATEST 
PASTOR, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING 
JR., TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO 
PERHAPS HIS FINEST DISCIPLE.
AN AMERICAN WHOSE FAITH WAS 
TESTED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO 
PRODUCE A MAN OF PURE JOY AND 
UNBREAKABLE PERSEVERANCE.
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS.
TO THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, TO 
PRESIDENTS BUSH AND CLINTON, 
MADAM SPEAKER, REVEREND WARNOCK,
REVEREND KING, JOHN'S FAMILY, 
FRIENDS, HIS BELOVED STAFF, 
MAYOR BOTTOMS, I'VE COME HERE 
TODAY BECAUSE I, LIKE SO MANY 
AMERICANS, OWE A GREAT DEBT TO 
JOHN LEWIS AND HIS FORCEFUL 
VISION OF FREEDOM.
THIS COUNTRY IS A CONSTANT WORK 
IN PROGRESS.
WE'RE BORN WITH INSTRUCTIONS, TO
FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.
EXPLICIT IN THOSE WORDS IS THE 
IDEA THAT WE'RE IMPERFECT.
THAT WHAT GIVES EACH NEW 
GENERATION PURPOSE IS TO TAKE UP
THE UNFINISHED WORK OF THE LAST 
AND CARRY IT FURTHER THAN ANY 
MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
JOHN LEWIS FIRST OF THE FREEDOM 
RIDERS, HEAD OF THE STUDENT 
NONVIOLENT COORDINATING 
COMMITTEE, YOUNGEST SPEAKER AT 
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, LEADER 
OF THE MARCH FROM SELMA TO 
MONTGOMERY, MEMBER OF CONGRESS 
REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF THIS 
STATE AND THIS DISTRICT FOR 33 
YEARS, MENTOR TO YOUNG PEOPLE, 
INCLUDING ME AT THE TIME, UNTIL 
HIS FINAL DAY ON THIS EARTH HE 
NOT ONLY EMBRACED THAT 
RESPONSIBILITY, BUT HE MADE IT 
HIS LIFE'S WORK.
WHICH ISN'T BAD FOR A BOY FROM 
TROY.
JOHN WAS BORN INTO MODEST MEANS.
THAT MEANS HE WAS POOR.
IN THE HEART OF THE JIM CROW 
SOUTH, TO PARENTS WHO PICKED 
SOMEBODY ELSE'S COTTON.
APPARENTLY HE DIDN'T TAKE TO 
FARM WORK.
ON DAYS WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO 
HELP HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS 
WITH THEIR LABOR, HE WOULD HIDE 
UNDER THE PORCH AND MAKE A BREAK
FOR THE SCHOOL BUS WHEN IT 
SHOWED UP.
HIS MOTHER WILLIE MAE LEWIS 
NURTURED THAT CURIOSITY IN THIS 
SHY, SERIOUS CHILD.
ONCE YOU LEARN SOMETHING, SHE 
TOLD HER SON, ONCE YOU GET 
SOMETHING INSIDE YOUR HEAD NO 
ONE CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.
AS A BOY JOHN LISTENED THROUGH 
THE DOOR AFTER BEDTIME, HIS 
FATHER'S FRIENDS COMPLAINED 
ABOUT THE KLAN.
ONE SUNDAY AS A TEENAGER HE 
HEARD DR. KING PREACH ON THE 
RADIO.
AS A COLLEGE STUDENT IN 
TENNESSEE HE SIGNED UP TO JIM 
LAWSON'S WORKSHOPS ON THE TACTIC
OF NONVIOLENT CIVIL 
DISOBEDIENCE.
JOHN LEWIS WAS GETTING SOMETHING
INSIDE HIS HEAD, AN IDEA HE 
COULDN'T SHAKE.
TOLD HOLD OF HIM.
THAT NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE AND 
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WERE THE 
MEANS TO CHANGE LAWS BUT ALSO 
CHANGE HEARTS AND CHANGE MINDS 
AND CHANGE NATIONS AND CHANGE 
THE WORLD.
SO HE HELPED ORGANIZE THE 
NASHVILLE CAMPAIGN IN 1960.
HE AND OTHER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
SAT AT A SEGREGATED LUNCH 
COUNTER, WELL-DRESSED, STRAIGHT 
BACK, REFUSING TO LET A 
MILKSHAKE POURED ON THEIR HEADS 
OR A CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHED ON 
THEIR BACKS OR A FOOT AIMED AT 
THEIR RIBS, REFUSED TO LET THAT 
DENT THEIR DIGNITY AND THEIR 
SENSE OF PURPOSE.
AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE 
NASHVILLE CAMPAIGN ACHIEVED THE 
FIRST SUCCESSFUL DESEGREGATION 
OF PUBLIC FACILITIES IN ANY 
MAJOR CITY IN THE SOUTH.
JOHN GOT A TASTE OF JAIL FOR THE
FIRST, SECOND, THIRD -- WELL, 
SEVERAL TIMES.
BUT HE ALSO GOT A TASTE OF 
VICTORY AND IT CONSUMED HIM WITH
RIGHTEOUS PURPOSE AND HE TOOK 
THE BATTLE DEEPER INTO THE 
SOUTH.
IN THAT SAME YEAR JUST WEEKS 
AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULED 
THAT SEGREGATION OF INTERSTATE 
BUS FACILITIES WAS 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, JOHN AND 
BERNARD LAFAYETTE BOUGHT TWO 
TICKETS, CLIMBED ABOARD A 
GREYHOUND, SAT UP FRONT AND 
REFUSED TO MOVE.
THIS WAS MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRST
OFFICIAL FREEDOM RIDES.
HE WAS DOING A TEST.
THE TRIP WAS UNSANCTIONED.
FEW KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO.
AT EVERY STOP THROUGH THE NIGHT 
APPARENTLY THE ANGRY DRIVER 
STORMED OUT OF THE BUS AND INTO 
THE BUS STATION AND JOHN AND 
BERNARD HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE 
MIGHT COME BACK WITH OR WHO HE 
MIGHT COME BACK WITH.
NOBODY WAS THERE TO PROTECT 
THEM.
THERE WERE NO CAMERA CREWS TO 
RECORD EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE READ 
ABOUT THIS AND WE KIND OF TAKE 
IT FOR GRANTED, OR AT LEAST WE 
ACT AS IF IT WAS INEVITABLE.
IMAGINE THE COURAGE OF TWO 
PEOPLE MALIA'S AGE, YOUNGER THAN
MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, ON THEIR OWN
TO CHALLENGE AN ENTIRE 
INFRASTRUCTURE OF OPPRESSION.
JOHN WAS ONLY 20 YEARS OLD, BUT 
HE PUSHED ALL 20 OF THOSE YEARS 
TO THE CENTER OF THE TABLE, 
BETTING EVERYTHING, ALL OF IT, 
THAT HIS EXAMPLE COULD CHALLENGE
CENTURIES OF CONVENTION AND 
GENERATIONS OF BRUTAL VIOLENCE 
AND COUNTLESS DAILY INDIGNITIES 
SUFFERED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARING 
THE WAY, LIKE THOSE OLD 
TESTAMENT PROPHETS SPEAKING 
TRUTH TO KINGS.
JOHN LEWIS DID NOT HESITATE AND 
HE KEPT ON GETTING ON BOARD 
BUSES AND SITTING AT LUNCH 
COUNTERS.
GOT HIS MUGSHOT TAKEN AGAIN AND 
AGAIN.
MARCHED AGAIN AND AGAIN ON A 
MISSION TO CHANGE AMERICA.
SPOKE TO A QUARTER MILLION 
PEOPLE AT THE MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON WHEN HE WAS JUST 23.
HELPED ORGANIZE THE FREEDOM 
SUMMER IN MISSISSIPPI WHEN HE 
WAS JUST 24.
AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 25 JOHN 
WAS ASKED TO LEAD THE MARCH FROM
SELMA TO MONTGOMERY.
HE WAS WARNED THAT GOVERNOR 
WALLACE HAD ORDERED TROOPERS TO 
USE VIOLENCE, BUT HE AND OTHERS 
LED THEM ACROSS THAT BRIDGE 
ANYWAY AND WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE 
FILM AND THE FOOTAGE AND THE 
PHOTOGRAPHS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON MENTIONED THE 
TRENCH COAT, THE NAP SACK, THE 
BOOK TO READ, THE APPLE TO EAT, 
THE TOOTHBRUSH.
APPARENTLY JAILS WEREN'T BIG ON 
SUCH CREATURE COMFORTS.
YOU LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES AND 
JOHN LOOKS SO YOUNG AND HE'S 
SMALL IN STATURE, LOOKING EVERY 
BIT THAT SHY, SERIOUS CHILD THAT
HIS MOTHER HAD RAISED AND YET 
HE'S FULL OF PURPOSE.
GOD PUT PERSEVERANCE IN HIM.
AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
MARCHERS THAT DAY, THEIR BONES 
WERE CRACKED BY BILLY CLUBS, 
THEIR EYES AND LUNGS CHOKED WITH
TEAR GAS, THEY KNELT TO PRAY 
WHICH MADE THEIR HEADS EASIER 
TARGETS AND JOHN WAS STRUCK IN 
THE SKULL AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS 
GOING TO DIE, SURROUNDED BY THE 
SIGHT OF YOUNG AMERICANS GAGGING
AND BLEEDING AND TRAMPLED.
VICTIMS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY OF 
STATE-SPONSORED VIOLENCE.
AND THE THING IS I IMAGINE 
INITIALLY THAT DAY THE TROOPERS 
THOUGHT THEY HAD WON THE BATTLE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE 
CONVERSATIONS THEY HAD 
AFTERWARDS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THEM SAYING, 
YEAH, WE SHOWED THEM.
THEY FIGURED THEY WOULD TURN THE
PROTESTERS BACK OVER THE BRIDGE,
THAT THEY KEPT, THAT THEY 
PRESERVED A SYSTEM THAT DENIED 
THE BASIC HUMANITY OF THEIR 
FELLOW CITIZENS, EXCEPT THIS 
TIME THERE WERE SOME CAMERAS 
THERE.
THIS TIME THE WORLD SAW WHAT 
HAPPENED, BORE WITNESS TO BLACK 
AMERICANS WHO WERE ASKING FOR 
NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE TREATED 
LIKE OTHER AMERICANS.
WHO WERE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL 
TREATMENT, JUST EQUAL TREATMENT,
PROMISED TO THEM A CENTURY 
BEFORE AND ALMOST ANOTHER 
CENTURY BEFORE THAT.
AND WHEN JOHN WOKE UP AND 
CHECKED HIMSELF OUT OF THE 
HOSPITAL HE WOULD MAKE SURE THE 
WORLD SAW MOVEMENT THAT WAS IN 
THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE HARD 
PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE BUT NOT 
CRUSHED.
PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR.
PERSECUTED BUT NOT ABANDONED.
STRUCK DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED.
THEY RETURNED TO BROWN CHAPEL, A
BATTERED PROPHET, BANDAGES 
AROUND HIS HEAD, AND HE SAID 
MORE MARCHERS WILL COME NOW.
AND THE PEOPLE CAME.
AND THE TROOPERS PARTED AND THE 
MARCHERS REACHED MONTGOMERY AND 
THEIR WORDS REACHED THE WHITE 
HOUSE AND LYNDON JOHNSON, SON OF
THE SOUTH, SAID, WE SHALL 
OVERCOME, AND THE VOTING RIGHTS 
ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.
THE LIFE OF JOHN LEWIS WAS IN SO
MANY WAYS EXCEPTIONAL.
IT VINDICATED THE FAITH IN OUR 
FOUNDING, REDEEMED THAT FAITH.
THAT MOST AMERICAN OF IDEAS.
THE IDEA THAT ANY OF US ORDINARY
PEOPLE WITHOUT RANK OR WEALTH OR
TITLE OR FAME CAN SOMEHOW POINT 
OUT THE IMPERFECTIONS OF THIS 
NATION AND COME TOGETHER AND 
CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO AND 
DECIDE THAT IT IS IN OUR POWER 
TO REMAKE THIS COUNTRY THAT WE 
LOVE, UNTIL IT MORE CLOSELY 
ALIGNS WITH OUR HIGHEST IDEAS.
WHAT A RADICAL IDEA.
WHAT A REVOLUTIONARY NOTION, 
THIS IDEA THAT ANY OF US 
ORDINARY PEOPLE, A YOUNG KID 
FROM TROY, CAN STAND UP TO THE 
POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES AND 
SAY, NO, THIS ISN'T RIGHT, THIS 
ISN'T TRUE, THIS ISN'T JUST.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF JUSTICE 
AMERICANS LIKE JOHN AND 
AMERICANS LIKE REVEREND LOWRY 
AND C.T. VIVIAN, TWO OTHER 
PATRIOTS THAT WE LOST THIS YEAR,
LIBERATED ALL OF US, THE MANY 
AMERICANS CAME TO TAKE FOR 
GRANTED.
AMERICA WAS BUILT BY PEOPLE LIKE
THEM.
AMERICA WAS BUILT BY JOHN LEWIS.
HE AS MUCH AS INN IN OUR HISTORY
BROUGHT THIS COUNTRY A LITTLE 
BIT CLOSER TO OUR HIGHEST 
IDEALS.
AND SOME DAY WHEN WE DO FINISH 
THAT LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS 
FREEDOM, WHEN WE DO FORM A MORE 
PERFECT UNION, WHETHER IT'S 
YEARS FROM NOW OR DECADES OR 
EVEN IF IT TAKES ANOTHER TWO 
CENTURIES, JOHN LEWIS WILL BE A 
FOUNDING FATHER OF THAT FULLER, 
FAIRER, BETTER AMERICA.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND YET AS EXCEPTIONAL AS JOHN 
WAS, HERE IS THE THING, JOHN 
NEVER BELIEVED THAT WHAT HE DID 
WAS MORE THAN ANY CITIZEN OF 
THIS COUNTRY CAN DO.
I MENTIONED IN THE STATEMENT THE
DAY JOHN PASSED THE THING ABOUT 
JOHN WAS JUST HOW GENTLE AND 
HUMBLE HE WAS.
AND DESPITE THIS STORIED 
REMARKABLE CAREER, HE TREATED 
EVERYONE WITH KINDNESS AND 
RESPECT BECAUSE IT WAS INNATE TO
HIM, THIS IDEA THAT ANY OF US 
CAN DO WHAT HE DID IF WE'RE 
WILLING TO PERSEVERE.
HE BELIEVED THAT IN ALL OF US 
THERE EXISTS THE CAPACITY FOR 
GREAT COURAGE.
THAT IN ALL OF US THERE IS A 
LONGING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
THAT IN ALL OF US THERE'S A 
WILLINGNESS TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE 
AND EXTEND TO THEM THEIR 
GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS TO DIGNITY AND 
RESPECT.
SO MANY OF US LOSE THAT SENSE.
IT'S TAUGHT OUT OF US.
WE START FEELING AS IF, IN FACT,
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO EXTEND 
KINDNESS OR DECENCY TO OTHER 
PEOPLE.
THAT WE'RE BETTER OFF IF WE'RE 
ABOVE OTHER PEOPLE AND LOOKING 
DOWN ON THEM, AND SO OFTEN 
THAT'S ENCOURAGED IN OUR 
CULTURE, BUT JOHN ALWAYS SAID --
HE ALWAYS SAW THE BEST IN US AND
HE NEVER GAVE UP AND NEVER 
STOPPED SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE HE 
SAW THE BEST IN US.
HE BELIEVES IN US EVEN WHEN WE 
DIDN'T BELIEVE IN OURSELVES.
AND AS A CONGRESSMAN HE DIDN'T 
REST, HE KEPT GETTING HIMSELF 
ARRESTED.
AS AN OLD MAN, HE DIDN'T SIT OUT
ANY FIGHT.
SAT IN ALL NIGHT LONG ON THE 
FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES 
CAPITOL.
I KNOW HIS STAFF WAS STRESSED.
BUT THE TESTING OF HIS FAITH 
PRODUCED PERSEVERANCE.
HE KNEW THAT THE MARCH WAS NOT 
OVER, THAT THE RACE IS NOT YET 
WON, THAT WE HAVE NOT YET 
REACHED THAT BLESSED DESTINATION
WHERE WE ARE JUDGED BY THE 
CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER.
HE KNEW FROM HIS OWN LIFE THAT 
PROGRESS IS FRAGILE, THAT WE 
HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AGAINST THE 
DARKER CURRENTS OF THIS 
COUNTRY'S HISTORY, OF OUR OWN 
HISTORY, WHERE THERE ARE WHIRL 
POOLS OF VIOLENCE AND HATRED AND
DESPAIR THAT CAN ALWAYS RISE 
AGAIN.
CONNER MAY BE GONE BUT TODAY WE 
WITNESS WITH OUR OWN EYES POLICE
OFFICERS KNEELING ON THE NECKS 
OF BLACK AMERICANS.
GEORGE WALLACE MAY BE GONE, BUT 
WE CAN WITNESS OUR FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT SENDING AGENTS TO USE
TEAR GAS AND BATONS AGAINST 
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS.
WE MAY NO LONGER HAVE TO GUESS 
THE NUMBER OF JELLY BEANS IN A 
JAR IN ORDER TO CAST A BALLOT, 
BUT EVEN AS WE SIT HERE THERE 
ARE THOSE IN POWER WHO ARE DOING
THEIR DARNDEST TO DISCOURAGE 
PEOPLE FROM VOTING BY CLOSING 
POLLING LOCATIONS AND TARGETING 
MINORITIES AND RESTRICTIVE ID 
LAWS AND ATTACKING OUR VOTING 
RIGHTS WITH SURGICAL PRECISION, 
EVEN UNDERMINING THE POSTAL 
SERVICE IN THE RUN UP TO AN 
ELECTION THAT'S GOING TO BE 
DEPENDENT ON MAIL-IN BALLOTS SO 
PEOPLE DON'T GET SICK.
NOW, I KNOW THIS IS A 
CELEBRATION OF
THERE ARE SOME WHO MIGHT SAY WE 
SHOULDN'T DWELL ON SUCH THINGS.
>> PREACH!
PREACH!
>> BUT THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING 
ABOUT IT.
JOHN LEWIS DEVOTED HIS TIME ON 
THIS EARTH FIGHTING THE VERY 
ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY AND WHAT'S 
BEST IN AMERICA THAT WE'RE 
SEEING CIRCULATE RIGHT NOW.
HE KNEW THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
US HAS A GOD-GIVEN POWER AND 
THAT THE FATE OF THIS DEMOCRACY 
DEPENDS ON HOW WE USE IT.
THAT DEMOCRACY ISN'T AUTOMATIC.
IT HAS TO BE NURTURED.
IT HAS TO BE TENDED TO.
WE HAVE TO WORK AT IT.
IT'S HARD.
AND SO, HE KNEW THAT IT DEPENDS 
ON WHETHER WE SUMMON A MEASURE, 
JUST A MEASURE OF JOHN'S MORAL 
COURAGE TO QUESTION WHAT'S RIGHT
AND WHAT'S WRONG.
AND CALL THINGS AS THEY ARE.
HE SAID THAT AS LONG AS HE HAD A
BREATH IN HIS BODY HE WOULD DO 
EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PRESERVE 
THIS DEMOCRACY.
AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE BREATH IN
OUR BODIES WE HAD TO CONTINUE 
HIS CAUSE.
IF WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW 
UP IN A DEMOCRACY, NOT JUST WITH
ELECTIONS BUT A TRUE DEMOCRACY, 
A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, IN A
BIG HEARTED, TOLERANT, VIBRANT, 
INCLUSIVE AMERICA OF PERPETUAL 
SELF CREATION, THEN WE'RE GOING 
TO HAVE TO BE MORE LIKE JOHN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL THE 
THINGS HE HAD TO DO BECAUSE HE 
DID THEM FOR US BUT WE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING.
AS THE LORD INSTRUCTED PAUL, DO 
NOT BE AFRAID.
GO ON SPEAKING.
DO NOT BE SILENT.
FOR I AM WITH YOU.
AND NO ONE WILL ATTACK YOU TO 
HARM YOU FOR I HAVE MANY IN THIS
CITY WHO ARE MY PEOPLE.
JUST EVERYBODY'S GOT TO COME OUT
AND VOTE.
WE GOT ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THE 
CITY BUT THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING.
LIKE JOHN, WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP 
GETTING INTO THAT GOOD TROUBLE.
HE KNEW THAT NONVIOLENT PROTEST 
IS PATRIOTIC.
A WAY TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS 
AND PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON INJUSTICE
AND MAKE THE POWERS THAT BE 
UNCOMFORTABLE.
LIKE JOHN, WE DON'T HAVE TO 
CHOOSE BETWEEN PROTESTS AND 
POLITICS.
IT'S NOT AN EITHER/OR SITUATION.
IT'S A BOTH/AND SITUATION.
WE HAVE TO ENGAGE IN PROTESTS 
WHERE THAT'S EFFECTIVE BUT WE 
ALSO HAVE TO TRANSLATE OUR 
PASSION.
AND OUR CAUSES INTO LAWS.
INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES.
THAT'S WHY JOHN RAN FOR CONGRESS
34 YEARS AGO.
LIKE JOHN, WE HAVE GOT TO FIGHT 
EVEN HARDER FOR THE MOST 
POWERFUL TOOL THAT WE HAVE WHICH
IS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS ONE OF 
THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
IT'S WHY JOHN CROSSED THAT 
BRIDGE.
IT'S WHY HE SPILLED HIS BLOOD.
AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS THE 
RESULT OF DEMOCRATIC AND 
REPUBLICAN EFFORTS.
PRESIDENT BUSH WHO SPOKE HERE 
EARLIER AND HIS FATHER SIGNED 
ITS RENEWAL WHEN THEY WERE IN 
OFFICE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
PRESIDENT CLINTON DIDN'T HAVE TO
BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAW WHEN HE 
ARRIVED SO INSTEAD HE MADE A LAW
TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO 
REGISTER TO VOTE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BUT ONCE THE SUPREME COURT 
WEAKENED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, 
SOME STATE LEGISLATORS UNLEASHED
A FLOOD OF LAWS DESIGNED 
SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE VOTING 
HARDER.
ESPECIALLY BY THE WAY STATE 
LEGISLATORS WHERE THERE'S A LOT 
OF MINORITY TURNOUT AND 
POPULATION GROWTH.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A MYSTERY
OR AN ACCIDENT.
IT WAS AN ATTACK ON WHAT JOHN 
FOUGHT FOR.
IT WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR 
DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS AND WE 
SHOULD TREAT IT AS SUCH.
IF POLL TURNS WANT TO HONOR JOHN
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE 
LEGACY AND WORK OF ALL THE 
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS WHO ARE 
HERE, BUT THERE'S A BETTER WAY 
THAN A STATEMENT CALLING HIM A 
HERO.
YOU WANT TO HONOR JOHN?
LET'S HONOR HIM BY VITALIZING 
THE LAW THAT HE WAS WILLING TO 
DIE FOR.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND BY THE WAY, NAMING IT THE 
JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT, 
THAT IS A FINE TRIBUTE.
BUT JOHN WOULDN'T WANT US TO 
STOP THERE.
JUST TRYING TO GET BACK TO WHERE
WE ALREADY WERE.
ONCE WE PASS THE JOHN LEWIS 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WE SHOULD 
KEEP MARCHING TO MAKE IT EVEN 
BETTER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BY MAKING SURE EVERY AMERICAN IS
AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED TO 
VOTE, INCLUDING INMATES WHO HAVE
EARNED THEIR SECOND CHANCE.
BY ADDING POLLING PLACES AND 
EXPANDING EARLY VOTING AND 
MAKING ELECTION DAY A NATIONAL 
HOLIDAY SO IF YOU ARE SOMEONE 
WHEN'S WORKING IN A FACTORY OR 
YOU'RE A SINGLE MOM WHO'S GOT TO
GO TO HER JOB AND DOESN'T GET 
TIME OFF, YOU CAN STILL CAST 
YOUR BALLOT.
BY GUARANTEEING THAT EVERY 
AMERICAN CITIZEN HAS EQUAL 
REPRESENTATION IN OUR GOVERNMENT
INCLUDING THE AMERICAN CITIZENS 
WHO LIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
IN PUERTO RICO.
THEY'RE AMERICANS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
BY ENDING SOME OF THE PARTISAN 
GERRYMANDERING SO THE VOTERS 
HAVE THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE THEIR 
POLL TURNS, NOT THE OTHER WAY 
AROUND.
AND IF ALL THIS TAKES 
ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER, 
ANOTHER JIM CROW RELIC, IN ORDER
TO SECURE THE GOD GIVEN RIGHTS 
OF EVERY AMERICAN THEN THAT'S 
WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
[ APPLAUSE ]
EVEN IF WE DO ALL THIS, EVEN IF 
EVERY BOGUS VOTER SUPPRESSION 
LAW IS STRUCK OFF THE BOOKS 
TODAY, WE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH 
OURSELVES THAT TOO MANY OF US 
CHOOSE NOT TO EXERCISE THE 
FRANCHISE.
TOO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS BELIEVE
THEIR VOTE WON'T MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE.
OR THEY BUY INTO THE CYNICISM 
THAT BY THE WAY IS THE CENTRAL 
STRATEGY OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.
TO MAKE YOU DISCOURAGED, TO STOP
BELIEVING IN YOUR OWN POWER.
SO WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO 
REMEMBER WHAT JOHN SAID.
IF YOU DON'T DO EVERYTHING, YOU 
CAN DO TO CHANGE THINGS, THEN 
THEY WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
YOU ONLY PASS THIS WAY ONCE.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL YOU 
HAVE.
AS LONG AS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE 
PRODESING IN THE STREETS HOPING 
REAL CHANGE TAKES HOLD I'M 
HOPEFUL BUT WE CAN'T CASUALLY 
ABANDON THEM AT THE BALLOT BOX, 
NOT WHEN FEW ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN
AS URGENT ON SO MANY LEVELS AS 
THIS ONE WE CAN'T TREAT VOTING 
AS AN ERRAND IF WE HAVE 
SOMETIME.
WE HAVE TO TREAT IT AS THE MOST 
IMPORTANT ACTION WE CAN TAKE.
ON BEHALF OF DEMOCRACY AND LIKE 
JOHN WE HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL WE 
HAVE.
I WAS PROUD THAT JOHN LEWIS WAS 
A FRIEND OF MINE.
I MET HIM WHEN I WAS IN LAW 
SCHOOL.
HE CAME TO SPEAK AND I WENT UP 
AND I SAID, MR. LEWIS, YOU ARE 
ONE OF MY HEROES.
WHAT INSPIRED ME AS A YOUNG MAN 
WAS TO SEE WHAT YOU AND REVEREND
LAWSON, BOB MOSES AND DIANE NASH
AND OTHERS DID.
AND HE GOT THAT KIND OF AWE 
SHUCKS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT TIME I SAW HIM I BEEN 
ELECTED TO THE UNITED STATES 
SENATE.
I TOLD HIM, JOHN, I'M HERE 
BECAUSE OF YOU.
AND ON INAUGURATION DAY IN 2008,
2009, HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 
PEOPLE I GREETED AND HUGGED ON 
THAT STAND AND I TOLD HIM.
THIS IS YOUR DAY, TOO.
HE WAS A GOOD AND KIND AND 
GENTLE MAN.
AND HE BELIEVED IN US.
EVEN WHEN WE DON'T BELIEVE IN 
OURSELVES.
AND IT'S FITTING THAT THE LAST 
TIME JOHN AND I SHARED A PUBLIC 
FORUM WAS ON ZOOM.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE NEITHER HE 
NOR I SET UP THE ZOOM CALL 
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO 
WORK IT.
AS A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WITH A 
GATHERING OF YOUNG ACTIVISTS WHO
HAD BEEN HELPING TO LEAD THIS 
SUMMER'S DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE 
WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND
AFTERWARDS I SPOKE TO JOHN 
PRIVATELY.
AND HE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN 
PROUDER TO SEE THIS NEW 
GENERATION OF ACTIVISTS STANDING
UP FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY.
A NEW GENERATION THAT WAS INTENT
ON VOTING AND PROTECTING THE 
RIGHT TO VOTE.
IN SOME CASES A NEW GENERATION 
RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.
AND I TOLD HIM, ALL THOSE YOUNG 
PEOPLE, JOHN, OF EVERY RACE AND 
EVERY RELIGION, FROM EVERY 
BACKGROUND AND GENDER AND SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, JOHN, THOSE ARE 
YOUR CHILDREN.
THEY LEARNED FROM YOUR EXAMPLE.
EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS KNOW 
IT.
THEY'D UNDERSTOOD THROUGH HIM 
WHAT AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP 
REQUIRES EVEN IF THEY'D ONLY 
HEARD ABOUT HIS COURAGE THROUGH 
THE HISTORY BOOKS.
BY THE THOUSANDS FACELESS 
ANONYMOUS RELENTLESS YOUNG 
PEOPLE, BLACK AND WHITE, HAVE 
TAKEN OUR WHOLE NATION BACK TO 
THOSE GREAT WELLS OF DEMOCRACY 
WHICH WERE DUG DEEP BY THE 
FOUNDING FATHERS IN THE 
FORMULATION OF THE CONSTITUTION 
AND THE DECLARATION OF 
INDEPENDENCE.
DR. KING SAID THAT IN THE 1960s.
AND IT CAME TRUE AGAIN THIS 
SUMMER.
WE SEE IT OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS IN
BIG CITIES AND RURAL TOWNS, MEN 
AND WOMEN, YOUNG AND OLD, 
STRAIGHT AMERICANS AND LGBTQ 
AMERICANS, BLACKS WHO LONG FOR 
EQUAL TREATMENT AND WHITES WHO 
CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT FREEDOM FOR
THEMSELVES WHILE WITNESSING THE 
SUBJUGATION OF THEIR FELLOW 
AMERICANS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE SEE IT IN EVERYBODY DOING THE
HARD WORK OF OVERCOMING 
COMPLACENCY.
OF OVERCOMING OUR OWN FEARS AND 
PREJUDICES.
OUR OWN HATREDS.
YOU SEE IT IN PEOPLE TRYING TO 
BE BETTER, TRUER VERSIONS OF 
OURSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHAT JOHN LEWIS 
TEACHES US.
THAT'S WHERE REAL COURAGE COMES 
FROM.
NOT FROM TURNING ON EACH OTHER.
BUT BY TURNING TOWARDS ONE 
ANOTHER.
NOT BY SOWING HATRED AND 
DIVISION.
BUT BY SPREADING LOVE AND TRUTH.
NOT BY AVOIDING OUR 
RESPONSIBILITIES TO CREATE A 
BETTER AMERICA AND A BETTER 
WORLD.
BUT BY EMBRACING THOSE 
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH JOY AND 
PERSEVERANCE AND DISCOVERING 
THAT IN OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY WE
DO NOT WALK ALONE.
WHAT A GIFT JOHN LEWIS WAS.
WE ARE ALL SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD 
HIM WALK WITH US FOR A WHILE.
AND SHOW US THE WAY.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
GOD BLESS THIS GENTLE SOUL WHO 
PULLED US CLOSER TO OUR PROMISE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
KNOT ♪
♪♪
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BROTHER 
MICHAEL COLLINS FOR ABOUT A WEEK
BEFORE CONGRESSMAN PASSED, HE 
CALLED BB AND SO BB AND I AND MY
CECE AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SING TO HIM.
AND ONE OF THE SONGS WE SANG 
SONGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT THE ONE 
SONG I'D LIKE FOR EVERYONE THAT 
WOULD, WOULD JUST JOIN IN WITH 
ME WHEN I SAY 
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ SOME DAY ♪
♪ OH DEEP IN MY HEART I DO 
BELIEVE ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME SOME DAY ♪
>> UPON HEARING THAT, HE OPENED 
HIS EYES BECAUSE THAT'S THE SONG
THAT LED AND WAS THE HEART OF 
THOSE MARCHES.
MY BROTHER HAS WREN ANOTHER SONG
TO THE MEMORY OF UNCLE ROBERT AS
SHE CALLED HIM BECAUSE HE 
TREATED US ALL LIKE FAMILY.
AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.
♪♪
♪ MORNING JOY ♪
♪ MORNING JOY ALABAMA ♪
♪ TO EDDIE AND WILLIE MAY ♪
♪ SHARECROPPERS WORKING ♪
♪ IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY ♪
♪ HE KNEW FLCHES MUCH MORE SO HE
ASKED THE LORD TO SHOW ♪
♪ ALL HE ACHIEVED IN HIS LIFE ♪
♪ 
♪ YOU ALREADY KNOW ♪
♪ HE WAS THERE IN A HURRY 
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH ♪
♪ DON'T YOU WORRY ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT IN THE
STRUGGLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE TOOK ON THE WRONGS OF THIS 
WORLD ♪
♪ LIKE CIVIL AND VOTING RIGHTS ♪
♪ NO MATTER THE PROBLEMS HE 
FACED 
HE KEPT HIS EYES ON THE PRIZE ♪
♪ AND THEN HE LEARNED TO WALK BY
FAITH 
AND BELIEVE GOD UNTIL THE END ♪
♪ AND KNEW WE WOULD OVERCOME AND
LOVE IS GOING TO WIN ♪
♪ HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU CALLED ♪
♪ DON'T YOU WORRY ♪
♪ HE'D TELL THE TRUTH IN A 
HURRY ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR 
THE STRUGGLE 
AND WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ YES HE WAS ♪
♪ YES HE WAS ♪
♪ WILLING TO GET INTO TROUBLE ♪
♪ AND AS YOU PUT ON YOUR ROBE TO
GO HOME ♪
♪ WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND 
BE STRONG ♪
♪ PUT ON THE ROBE AND GO HOME ♪
♪ LET'S GO HOME ♪
♪ WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT 
CONTINUE TO FIGHT ♪
♪ HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU CALLED 
HIM 
IN A HURRY ♪
♪ HE'D TELL YOU THE TRUTH 
DON'T YOU WORRY ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR 
THE STRUGGLE ♪
♪ AND HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO
TROUBLE ♪
♪ OH HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT 
READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT 
HE WAS READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT 
READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ WILLING TO GET INTO TROUBLE ♪
♪ WILLING TO FIGHT 
READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO GET INTO 
TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT 
READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO GET 
INTO TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WILL SPEAK TO POWER ♪
♪ READY TO FIGHT 
WILLING TO FIGHT ♪
♪ BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO GET 
INTO TROUBLE ♪
THANK YOU 
THANK YOU ♪
♪ WILLING TO FIGHT 
WILLING TO GET INTO TROUBLE ♪
♪ HE WAS WILLING TO FIGHT 
WE SHOULD BE READY TO FIGHT ♪
♪ WILLING TO GET INTO TROUBLE ♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
>> LET US PRAY.
AND WHEN HE SHALL DIE TAKE HIM 
AND CUT HIM INTO STARS.
HE SHALL MAKE THE FACE OF HEAVEN
SO FINE THAT ALL THE WORLD WILL 
GROW IN LOVE WITH NIGHT.
AND PAY NO WORSHIP TO THE GARISH
SUN.
GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, WE 
COMMEND INTO YOUR SAFETY THE 
SOUL OF YOUR SON JOHN ROBERT 
LEWIS.
YOU'VE SEEN THE AFFIDAVIT OF HIS
DEEDS, YES.
HE STAYED IN TROUBLE.
GOOD TROUBLE.
NECESSARY TROUBLE.
HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
HE FINISHED HIS COURSE.
HE KEPT THE FAITH.
AND NOW LAID UP FOR HIM A CROWN 
OF OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
BUT NOT ONLY TO HIM BUT TO ALL 
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD'S APPEARING.
NOW PART OF A GREAT MIGHTY CLOUD
OF WITNESSES IS HE.
THESE ARE THEY WHO HAVE GONE 
THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
THEY WASHED THEIR ROBES IN THE 
BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
THE ANGELS REJOICE.
BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN VINDICATED 
BY HISTORY.
HIS DEEDS ETCHED INTO HISTORY 
AND HIS SOUL RECEIVED INTO YOUR 
GLORY.
IN THE NAME OF THE GOD WHO LOVES
US INTO FREEDOM, AND FREES US 
INTO LOVING.
TO CHRIST OUR LORD WE PRAY, 
AMEN.
>> WE PRAY THAT TODAY WAS A 
MEMORIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR YOU.
NOW REVEREND WARNOCK WILL 
RECEIVE THE FAMILY WITH REVEREND
BERNICE KING AND THEN FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY CARRY OUT 
OUR REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> YOU ALL STAND.
♪♪
THE FAMILY MAY REMAIN SEATED.
THANK YOU.
♪♪
>> WE ARE NEARING THE END OF 
THIS THREE AND A HALF HOUR LONG 
MEMORIAL SERVICE, A CELEBRATION 
OF THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN 
LEWIS.
BUT MORE THAN THAT CELEBRATION, 
IT WAS ALSO A CALL TO ACTION, A 
CALL TO FOLLOW THE FIGHT AS THE 
MINISTER SAID A MOMENT AGO, THE 
GOOD FIGHT, THAT HAD BEEN WAGED 
BY THE CONGRESSMAN.
IN A SHORT TIME, WE EXPECT TO 
SEE THE MILITARY HONOR GUARD WHO
WILL ESCORT AND CARRY OUT THE 
BODY OF CONGRESSMAN LEWIS.
THIS IS THE EBENEZER BAPTIST 
CHURCH IN ATLANTA, OUTSIDE OUR 
BLAYNE ALEXANDER IS WATCHING 
WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW 
THE PEOPLE TOOK THIS IN?
>> LESTER, I HAVE TO SAY THAT 
ALL OF THE REACTIONS THAT YOU 
SAW, ALL OF THE APPLAUSE, 
LAUGHTER, TEARS YOU SAW INSIDE 
OF THE CHURCH REALLY ECHOED AND 
PERHAPS AMPLIFIED BY THE CROWD 
HERE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING THINGS 
ABOUT THIS WATCHING FROM THE 
OUTSIDE WERE JUST THE SHEER 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP 
TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS, TO WATCH 
ALL THREE AND A HALF HOURS OR SO
OF THAT FUNERAL ALONG WITH 
EVERYBODY WATCHING AROUND THE 
COUNTRY.
I GOT TO SAY WALKING AMONG THE 
CROWD, PEOPLE ON THE FEET FOR 
THE BETTER PART OF THREE HOURS, 
PACKED IN TIGHTLY, THEY WERE 
GLUED TO EVERY MOMENT JUST AS 
THOUGH THEY WERE SITTING THERE 
INSIDE THE PEWS IN THAT CHURCH 
AND SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING 
THE CHILDREN OUT, YOU SAW SOME 
WOMEN DRESSED UP IN THE SUNDAY 
FINEST AND REALLY ATTENDING A 
MEMORIAL SERVICE, A FUNERAL FOR 
A LOVED ONE AND I THINK THAT 
SPEAKS TO WHAT JOHN LEWIS MEANS,
NOT ONLY TO SO MANY PEOPLE 
WATCHING AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT 
TO THE PEOPLE OF ATLANTA BECAUSE
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW THE KING 
DISTRICT, THIS IS THE HEART OF 
JOHN LEWIS'S DISTRICT, THE PLACE
WHERE HE SERVED FOR 33 YEARS, SO
MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT
HERE MAY HAVE WALKED FROM HOME 
AND LIKELY NOT ONLY TO SERVE AS 
A CONGRESSMAN BUT THEY GREW UP 
WITH HIM AS THEIR CONGRESSMAN.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING OUT TO PAY
TRIBUTES AND RESPECTS, LESTER.
>> JUST TAKE IN THIS MOMENT AS 
THE CONGRESSMAN'S CASKET IS 
CARRIED OUT. 
>> AT THIS TIME, AS WE PREPARE 
TO DEPART, WE ASK THAT THE 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE 
EXTENDSED FAMILY AND SPECIALEN 
VITED GUESTS JOIN WITH US AND WE
INJOY THE VIRAL VIDEO OF OUR 
VENERABLE JOHN LEWIS DANCING TO 
HIS FAVORITE SONG BY PHARRELL 
WILLIAMS "HAPPY."
THIS IS A CHANCE TO DANCE WITH 
HIM AND CLAP ALONG IF YOU FEEL 
LIKE A ROOM WITHOUT --
>> WANT TO BRING IN A 
JOURNALIST, FRIEND OF THE 
CONGRESSMAN.
SHARLAIN, YOU HAVE SEEN THE 
EVENTS OVER SIX DAYS, 
CULMINATING, OF COURSE, OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL HOURS.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME AN INITIAL 
IMPRESSIONS OF THE SERVICE WE 
HAVE WITNESSED?
>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT I FELT -- 
BECAUSE JOHN'S HOME GOING IS MY 
HOMECOMING.
BECAUSE I CAN'T BE THERE BUT 
ATLANTA IS MY HOME AND IS THE 
LAST TIME JOHN AND I WERE 
TOGETHER WAS IN ATLANTA WHEN HE 
WON -- FORMER MAYOR OF ATLANTA 
WHO DID SO MUCH FOR THE CITY.
AND JOHN AND I WERE TOGETHER.
WE -- FOR HIS WORK IN SOCIAL 
COURAGE.
AND WE DID WHAT WE BOTH DO ALL 
THE TIME.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHAT 
HAD GONE ON IN ATLANTA IN HIS 
LIFE AND IN MINE.
WE START -- ABOUT THE DAYS OF 
PROTESTING.
SACRIFICE.
BUT ALSO BUT THINGS THAT WERE 
VICTORIOUS.
I REMEMBER THAT JOHN WAS 
INVOLVED IN THE FIRST SIT-INS IN
NORTH CAROLINA AND AFTER THAT 
ATLANTA DIDN'T -- STOOD UP, 
SHOWED UP SO THEY ORGANIZED.
THE MOVEMENT AND -- OF JOHN.
AND SO THEY STARTED THEIR OWN 
PREPARATIONS AND JOHN CAME IN 
1960.
TO MEET WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING.
AND -- GET IN THE WAY BECAUSE 
LIKE CHURCH EBENEZER BAPTIST 
CHURCH IS ON A STREET USED TO BE
CALLED SWEET ABERNATHY BECAUSE 
THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL BUT AT THE 
SAME TIME THEY WERE DENIED BEING
ABLE TO SET UP AND MAIN PART OF 
TOWN.
WE WERE DENIED.
WE COULD SHOP AND BUY CLOTHES 
BUT NOT EAT IN THE RESTAURANTS 
SO JOHN CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA
AND THE STUDENTS WERE GETTING 
READY SO ALL OF THAT IS COMING 
BACK TO ME AND AS I SAID MY CUP 
RUNNETH OVER WITH THE MEMORIES 
AND SO MUCH OF WHAT WAS SAID 
TODAY I HOPE WILL LIVE IN THE 
HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT HEARD 
IT.
>> CLARLAYNE, THANK YOU.
I WANT DO GO BACK TO BLAYNE 
ALEXANDER.
CAN YOU TELL US -- OKAY.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HER QUIET.
LET ME GO TO EUGENE ROBINSON.
EUGENE, STIRRING REMARKS FROM 
FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA 
WHO KIND OF WENT THERE ON THE 
MERE IMAGES OF WHAT WE ARE 
SEEING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF 
VOTER SUPPRESSION AND THE CAUSE 
THAT JOHN LEWIS FOUGHT FOR. 
>> HE DID GO THERE, LESTER.
I THOUGHT PRESIDENT OBAMA 
DELIVERED A REMARKABLE EULOGY 
THAT WAS ABOUT HISTORY, THE 
INCREDIBLE HISTORY THAT JOHN 
LEWIS LIVED AND HELPED SHAPE.
BUT ALSO, VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS 
MOMENT.
HE SPOKE ABOUT THE KILLING OF 
GEORGE FLOYD, SPOKE ABOUT THE 
PROTESTS THAT AROSE 
SPONTANEOUSLY AROUND THE 
COUNTRY, AROUND THE ISSUE OF 
SYSTEMIC RACISM.
HE SPOKE ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE,
OF STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST THOSE 
PROTESTS.
AND HE SPOKE ABOUT VOTER 
SUPPRESSION.
SPOKE A LOT ABOUT VOTER 
SUPPRESSION.
AND YOU KNOW, HE SAID THAT IF WE
WANT TO KEEP ALIVE THE MEMORY OF
JOHN LEWIS THEN WE WANT TO HONOR
THAT MEMORY, THEN IT IS UP TO US
TO ACT NOW AND TO ABOUT TO 
UPHOLD THE VALUES FOR WHICH HE 
WAS WILLING TO DIE SO-CALLED FOR
REVITALIZATION OF THE VOTING 
RIGHTS ACT, A PIECE OF 
LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN STALLED 
ON CAPITOL HILL.
HE CALLED FOR AN END TO VOTER 
SUPPRESSION, CALLED FOR EVERYONE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRACY 
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT A 
DEMOCRACY.
IT WAS A REMARKABLE AND I 
THOUGHT SEARING EULOGY THAT THE 
FORMER PRESIDENT DELIVERED AND 
WHAT AN EVENT.
THREE FORMER PRESIDENTS, GEORGE 
W. BUSH, BILL CLINTON, ALSO GAVE
HEARTFELT BRIEF REMARKS ABOUT 
JOHN LEWIS.
AND THE REVEREND JAMES LAWSON 
WHO WAS JOHN LEWIS'S MENTOR WHO 
IS NOW 91 YEARS OLD AND WAS SUCH
A VITAL, PIVOTAL FIGURE IN THE 
BIRTH AND FORMATION OF THE 
NONVIOLENT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
IN NASHVILLE IN THE 1950s.
A REALLY ONE OF THE MOST 
IMPORTANT AMERICANS THAT MANY 
AMERICANS MAY NOT KNOW A LOT 
ABOUT.
HE DELIVERED A JUST EQUALLY 
REMARKABLE SET OF REMARKS I 
THOUGHT THAT TOLD A LOT OF THAT 
HISTORY.
AND THAT ALSO STIRRED LISTENERS 
TO ACTION, TO PARTICIPATION IN 
THE DEMOCRACY.
IT WAS REALLY QUITE A SERVICE.
ITSELF A PIECE OF HISTORY.
AND ONE THAT I CERTAINLY WILL 
REMEMBER FOR A LONG TIME AND I 
THINK OTHERS WILL, AS WELL, 
LESTER. 
>> WE SHOULD NOTE THAT 
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS IN MANY WAYS 
GOT THE LAST WORD TODAY.
HE HAD WRITTEN AN OP-ED THAT WAS
TIMED TO BE RELEASED IN "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" TODAY.
AMONG THE THINGS HE SAID, 
ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH 
EXTRAORDINARY VISION CAN REDEEM 
THE SOUL OF AMERICA BY GETTING 
IN WHAT I CALL GOOD TROUBLE, 
NECESSARY TROUBLE.
THESE WERE WORDS, OF COURSE, 
THAT HAVE DEFINED HIS LIFE WORK 
AND WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OVER THE
LAST FEW DAYS BUT CERTAINLY 
REMARKS WORTH READING IN "THE 
NEW YORK TIMES" TODAY IN THAT 
OP-ED.
LET ME GO BACK TO BLAYNE 
ALEXANDER.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE FINAL 
ARRANGEMENTS ARE?
>> LESTER, NOW HE GOES ON WHAT 
WILL BE ESSENTIALLY HIS FINAL 
DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY OF 
ATLANTA.
HE WILL BE LAID TO REST AT A 
HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN 
CEMETERY HERE IN THE CITY ABOUT 
15 MINUTES AWAY OR SO, SO WE 
KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A 
PRIVATE BURIAL.
A BUGLER ON HAND AND I HAVE TO 
SAY LIKE SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN OVER THE PAST SIX DAYS, THE
TRIBUTES HAVE REALLY JUST BEEN 
STEEPED IN SYMBOLISM AND HIS 
INTERNMENT AT SOUTH-VIEW SEMII'M
SORRY IS NO DIFFERENT.
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 
HISTORY OF THAT CEMETERY, IT WAS
FOUNDED IN THE LATE 1800s BY A 
GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN 
BUSINESS MEN WHO FOUNDED THEIR 
OWN CEMETERY BECAUSE THEY 
WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GO IN THROUGH
THE FRONT OF THE OTHER EXISTING 
WHITE-OWNED CEMETERIES IN THE 
CITY AND WENT OUT AND BUILT 
THEIR ON AND WILL BE LAID TO 
REST NEXT TO HIS WIFE LILLIAN.
PEOPLE ARE LINING THE STREETS, 
THE ROUTES ALL THE WAY THERE AND
I EXPECT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING 
TO SEE MORE OF TODAY AS PEOPLE 
SAY THOSE FINAL GOOD-BYES, 
LESTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AGAIN, WE HEARD FROM THREE 
FORMER PRESIDENTS WHO SPOKE AT 
TODAY'S CEREMONY.
WE ALSO HEARD A STATEMENT, THE 
WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WAS READ 
FROM PRESIDENT CARTER.
I WANT DO GO TO ANDREA MITCHELL 
NOW WATCHING WITH US.
ANDREA, IT IS AN AMAZING SIGHT 
TO SEE THE FORMER PRESIDENTS 
GATHERED TOGETHER THERE.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> CERTAINLY THE ONE MISSING, 
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, BECAUSE 
IN MOST TIMES, IN MOST 
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THIS IS THE 
THIRD TIME THAT WE KNOW OF THAT 
JOHN McCAIN, GEORGE HERBERT 
WALKER BUSH FUNERAL, OF COURSE, 
AND OTHERS WHERE THIS PRESIDENT 
HAS NOT BEEN PRESENT.
HE CAME TO GEORGE W. BUSH'S 
FUNERAL AND DID NOT COME TO 
SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS OR SPEAK
AT THE OCCASIONS AND TO SEE THE 
MEN TOGETHER AND TO SEE THEIR 
CONNECTIONS AND THEIR HISTORY 
AND HOW THEY CROSSED LINES, 
PRESIDENT BUSH SAID TODAY THAT 
THEY DID HAVE DIFFERENCES 
ALTHOUGH HE REAUTHORIZED THE 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND MARCHED 
ACROSS THE BRIDGE WITH JOHN 
LEWIS AND HE SAID THAT THEY WERE
BROUGHT UP IN AN AGE WHEN 
ACCOMMODATING THE DIFFERENCES 
WAS PART OF THE AMERICAN 
TRADITION OF DEMOCRACY.
I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THE CALL 
TO ACTION YOU REFERRED TO BY 
BARACK OBAMA TO COMPLETE AND 
MOVE ON WITH THE LEGACY OF JOHN 
LEWIS.
HE TOOK IT RIGHT TO THE WHITE 
HOUSE BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, TODAY
WE WITNESS WITH OUR OWN EYES, 
WITNESS OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
SENDING AGENTS TO USE TEAR GAS 
AND BATONS AGAINST PEACEFUL 
DEMONSTRATORS, POLICE OFFICERS 
KNEELING ON THE NECKS OF BLACK 
AMERICANS.
WE NO LONGER HAVE TO GUESS THE 
NUMBER OF JELLYBEANS IN THE JAR 
WHICH IS THE WAY THEY STOPPED 
AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE VOTING 
AFTER THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO 
VOTE.
BUT CERTAINLY DURING THE YEARS 
AFTER JIM CROW.
BUT HE SAID THAT TODAY WE ARE 
SEEING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 
TRYING TO DISCOURAGE VOTING 
AGAINST MINORITIES, STUDENTS, 
CLOSING POLLING PLACES, TRYING 
TO UNDERMINE THE POST OFFICE IN 
A YEAR WHEN WE NEED MAIL-IN 
BALLOTS MORE THAN EVER SO PEOPLE
FEEL SAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR 
HEALTH CONCERNS TO VOTE AND HE 
BROUGHT IT TO THE CURRENT 
CONCERNS AND HE BROUGHT PEOPLE 
TO THEIR FEET STANDING OVATION 
FROM ALL THOSE IN THE CHURCH.
FOR THIS CALL TO ACTION AND NOT 
JUST TO RESTORE AND VOTE 
EVENTUALLY THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT
BEING RENAMED FOR JOHN LEWIS BUT
TO MAKE VOTING MORE AVAILABLE, 
TO MAKE ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY, 
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE LARGELY 
LOWER INCOME PEOPLE THAT CAN'T 
GET TO THE POLLS, AWAY FROM 
WORK.
SO HE REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME TO 
THE CURRENT CRISIS, TO THE 
CURRENT CRISIS INVOLVED IN 
POLICE BRUTALITY, THE PROTESTS 
IN SEATTLE, SENDING FEDERAL 
TROOPS INTO CITIES AND TOOK IT 
TO A POLITICAL LEVEL THAT REALLY
CELEBRATED THE LIFE AND THE 
PASSION OF JOHN LEWIS AND 
TALKING ABOUT THIS 20-YEAR-OLD 
MAN WHO JUST A FEW YEARS 
THAN HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER MALIA 
GETTING ON THE BUSES AND PUT HIS
LIFE ON THE LINE, I THINK 
CAPTURED WITH SCRIPTURE, WITH 
THE POLITICAL IMPERATIVE REALLY 
THE SOUL OF JOHN LEWIS AND WHAT 
HE MEANS TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
>> I WANT TO BRING IN JON 
MEACHAM OF AND HAVE DER BUILT 
UNIVERSITY AND NBC NEWS NEWS 
CONTRIBUTOR.
JON, WE SAW THOSE REMARKS OR THE
OP-ED THAT JOHN LEWIS HAD 
WRITTEN IN PREPARATION FOR THIS 
DAY TODAY AND ALL THE POINTS 
THAT ANDREA JUST TALKED ABOUT 
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA TALKED 
ABOUT, THEY ALL CAME THROUGH 
THERE.
IT'S ALMOST AS IF HE HAD THE 
LAST WORD.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT 
THAT?
>> THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF 
JOHN LEWIS WHO EMBODIED THE BEST
THAT THE CHURCH CAN BE.
ONE OF THE REASONS HE BECAME WHO
HE WAS WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A 
PREACHER IN TROY WHO WOULD COME 
OVER FROM MONTGOMERY WHEN HE WAS
A YOUNG MAN AND THE PREACHER 
ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE HEAVENLY
CITY, ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT 
REACHING THE STREETS WHERE THEY 
WERE PAVED WITH GOLD.
FOCUSED ON WHAT WAS TO COME.
AND JOHN HAD AN INSTINCTIVE 
REACTION THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO BEING 
HERE.
AND ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL 
MOMENTS TODAY WAS THE SERMON BY 
JAMES LAWSON, ONE OF THE MOST 
IMPORTANT AMERICANS THAT MANY 
PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD OF.
BUT LAWSON WAS THE ARCHITECT OF 
THE NONVIOLENT PHILOSOPHY THAT 
DROVE DR. KING, THAT DROVE JOHN 
LEWIS, THAT DROVE DIANE NASH, 
THAT DROVE THE BEST OF THE 
MOVEMENT AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I THINK THE PAST THREE AND A
HALF HOURS HAVE REMINDED US ANEW
THAT WORDS MATTER MOST WHEN 
THEY'RE MATCHED BY DEEDS.
AND NO ONE AS SEVERAL OF THE 
PRESIDENTS SAID, NO ONE REALLY 
EMBODIED THAT BETTER THAN 
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS.
THIS WAS SOMEWHAT POLITICAL HERE
AND THERE BUT THAT'S WHAT 
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS WOULD HAVE 
WANTED BECAUSE HE WAS SOMEWHAT 
POLITICAL HERE AND THERE.
A MAN DRIVEN BY THE IDEAL AND 
UNLIKE A LOT OF THIS, JOHN LIVED
AND TO HIS LAST DAYS FOUGHT FOR 
A WORLD IN WHICH THE IDEAL WOULD
BECOME REAL.
AND EVEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WHO IS 
MORE OF A DISCIPLE OF PEOPLE WHO
THINK THAT HISTORY IS 
FUNDAMENTALLY TRAGIC, THE BEST 
TO DO IS TO REACH A MORE PERFECT
UNION, NOT A PERFECT UNION, WHAT
MAKES JOHN LEWIS SO SPECIAL AND 
HE LEARNED THIS FROM JIM LAWSON 
IS THAT JOHN LEWIS BELIEVED WE 
COULD BECOME PERFECT.
I DON'T HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH 
THAT BUT I DO KNOW THIS.
THAT AS DR. KING USED TO SAY, IF
THE ARC OF A MORAL UNIVERSE IS 
LONG BUT BENDS TO JUSTICE IT 
WILL ONLY BEND IF YOU HAVE 
PEOPLE LIKE JOHN LEWIS INSISTING
THAT IT SWERVE.
>> LET ME BRING CHARLAYNE BACK 
IN.
THE CONGRESSMAN IN THE LAST 
WORDS SAID THAT EMMITT TILL WAS 
HIS GEORGE FLOYD.
CAN YOU REFLECT ON WHAT 
CONFIDENCE HE HAD, HIS HOPE IN 
THE NEXT GENERATION OF UP AND 
COMING CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS?
>> IT IS INTERESTING YOU MENTION
EMMITT TILL BECAUSE I THINK IT 
WAS THE BIRTHDAY BEFORE JOHN 
PASSED OR THE DAY AROUND BUT 
AROUND THAT TIME BROUGHT ALL OF 
THAT BACK TO ME.
YOU TALKED EARLIER -- EVERYBODY 
TALKED ABOUT THE EDITORIAL.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
HARD ABOUT THAT IS -- JOHN SAID 
IN THE EDITORIAL YOU MUST STUDY 
AND LEARN THE LESSONS OF HISTORY
BECAUSE -- STRUGGLE FOR A VERY 
LONG TIME AND I HOPE THAT THE 
PUBLIC POLICY BECAUSE I'M A 
THIRD OF THE PEOPLE AND I WANT 
TO -- DON'T WANT TO GET 
POLITICAL BUT HERE'S WHEN'S 
INTERESTING ABOUT JOHN SAY STUDY
HISTORY BECAUSE -- TALK TO THE 
YOUNG -- IN THE COUNTY AND HE 
WAS THERE AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE MARCH ON THE BRIDGE AND HE 
SAID THAT AS A YOUNG OFFICER, HE
SAID JOHN LEWIS THE 
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FAITH 
IN POLITICS OVER A SEVEN-YEAR 
PERIOD AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND HE 
SAID AS A YOUNG MEMBER OF THE 
DEPARTMENT HE SAW THAT SO BY THE
TIME HE GOT TO BE THE HEAD OF 
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHAT HE 
DID WAS GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY
AND PUT IN A CLASS ON BLACK 
HISTORY GOING BACK TO THE 
DREADED SCOTT DECISION TO THE 
EMMITT TILL CASE BECAUSE HE SAID
HE WANTED HIS PREDOMINANTLY 
WHITE OFFICERS TO EXPERIENCE 
WHAT IT REALLY HAPPENED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S 
HAPPENING TODAY WITH THE ISSUE 
OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE, I THINK
THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE 
TALKED ABOUT WAS HOW THE HISTORY
HELPED HIS YOUNG WHITE OFFICERS 
UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THE 
PEOPLE THAT HE HAD BEEN WORKING 
WITH.
AND SO, GOING BACK TO STUDY 
HISTORY, I THINK IT'S REALLY 
IMPORTANT, THIS POINT THAT HE IS
MAKING AND HE ALSO SAID IN THAT 
EDITORIAL THAT HE WANTED YOUNG 
PEOPLE TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS AND
CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME AND TO 
BUILD, TO BUILD HE SAID A UNION 
BETWEEN MOVEMENTS, ACROSS THE 
GLOBE.
I THINK THAT AS WE LEARN FROM 
JOHN THERE'S SO MANY OTHERS 
STILL ALIVE TODAY AND I TALKED 
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A 
COALITION OF THE GENERATIONS TO 
DO THE THINGS THAT JOHN WANTED 
TO HAVE DONE WHICH IS TO KEEP ON
KEEPING ON BECAUSE WE HAVE BLACK
LIVES MATTER, PEOPLE OF ALL 
RACES AND CREEDS AND SEXUAL 
ORIENTATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS 
BUT -- TALKING ABOUT JOHN AND 
HIS IDEA TO GET IN TROUBLE AND 
KEEP ON KEEPING ON THAT NOW ONE 
OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S ON -- THAT 
WE NEED A PLAN.
AND SO, TO HELP GET THIS PLAN --
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PICK UP THE 
BATON AND REALIZE THE DREAMS 
THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- ARTICULATE 
ABOUT JOHN'S -- LOOK TO THE 
FUTURE BECAUSE THIS EDITORIAL IN
"THE TIMES" TODAY IS A LESSON 
FOR US TO GO IN TO THE FUTURE.
>> LET ME GO TO EUGENE ROBINSON 
VERY QUICKLY HERE BEFORE WE SIGN
OFF.
WHERE DO WE STAND ON THE VOTING 
RIGHTS ACT AND RESTORING IT?
IT WAS RENAMED IN CONGRESSMAN 
LEWIS'S NAME AND DOES IT DO 
ANYTHING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE TO 
BRING IT UP TO THE ENTIRETY?
>> TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I 
DOUBT IT.
IT'S PAST THE HOUSE.
IT'S SITTING IN THE SENATE.
IT IS UP TO MAJORITY LEADER 
MITCH McCONNELL TO BRING IT UP 
FOR A VOTE.
AND LET THIS LEGISLATION BE 
VOTED ON, PERHAPS AMENDED.
I THINK IT COULD BE STRENGTHENED
QUITE A BIT AND PRESIDENT OBAMA 
TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT I FRANKLY DON'T THINK THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS ELECTION
YEAR.
I THINK IT HAS MORE OF A CHANCE 
PERHAPS AFTER THE ELECTION WITH 
A NEW CONGRESS BUT I'M AFRAID I 
CAN'T BE OPTIMISTIC ON THAT 
FRONT.
>> YEAH.
I THINK YOU AND OTHERS AGREE ON 
THAT POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE AGAIN SEE THE HEARSE, THE 
CASKET INSIDE OF CONGRESSMAN 
LEWIS.
HE WILL BE LAID TO REST 
ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, AN 
INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL THREE AND A
HALF HOUR SERVICE BUT ALSO ONE 
THAT REINSPECTOR GENERAL VIG 
RATING THE CALLS FOR -- 
REINVIGORATED THE CALLS FOR 
JUSTICE.
THERE'S PRAISE FROM FAMILY, 
FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FROM 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY 
PELOSI.
AND FOUR FORMER PRESIDENTS.
GEORGE BUSH, BILL CLINTON, 
BARACK OBAMA AND BY LETTER JIMMY
CARTER.
AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIBUTE TO A 
MAN WHOSE ENTIRE LIFE WAS AND 
REMAINS A MONUMENT TO THE 
PEACEFUL PURSUIT OF JUSZ TIS AND
EQUAL RIGHTS.
WHAT A GREAT LEGACY HE LEAVES 
FOR ALL OF US.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPECIAL 
COVERAGE.
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US AND AS HE NOW
HEADS TO THE FINAL REST, WE 
LEAVE YOU WITH JOHN LEWIS 
HIMSELF IN HIS OWN WORDS.
>> SOMETIME I HEAR PEOPLE 
SAYING, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
BUT FOR SOMEONE TO GROW UP THE 
WAY I GREW UP IN THE COTTON 
FIELDS OF ALABAMA, TO NOW BE 
SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES 
CONGRESS, MAKES ME WANT TO TELL 
THEM, COME AND WALK IN MY SHOES.
>> THERE'S SMOG DEEP DOWN WITHIN
ME MOVING ME THAT I COULD NO 
LONGER BE SATISFIED.
WE DO NOT WANT OUR FREEDOM 
GRADUALLY BUT WE WANT TO BE FREE
NOW. 
>> NEVER SEEN A CROWD LIKE THAT 
BEFORE.
NEVER SPOKEN TO A CROWD LIKE 
THAT BEFORE. 
>> WAKE UP, AMERICA!
WAKE UP!
>> I WAS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD. 
>> WE ARE MARCHING TODAY TO 
DRAMATIZE TO THE NATION, 
DRAMATIZE TO THE WORLD THAT 
HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF NEGRO 
CITIZENS OF ALABAMA BUT 
PARTICULARLY HERE DENIED THE 
RIGHT TO VOTE. 
>> WE WERE DETERMINED.
WE WERE ORGANIZED.
WE WERE DISCIPLINED.
AND WE WERE COMMITTED TO THE WAY
OF PEACE.
THE WAY OF LOVE.
THE WAY OF NONVIOLENCE.
WE WERE PREPARING TO DIE FOR 
WHAT WE BELIEVED IN.
>> THEY STAMPEDE US.
NIGHTSTICK.
AND HORSES.
THEY TEAR GASSED US.
THEY TURN OUR NONVIOLENT PROTEST
INTO BLOOD.
>> ALL OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
A RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A 
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THEY ALL 
SHOULD HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO 
REGISTER AND VOTE. 
>> MY PHILOSOPHY IS VERY SIMPLE.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS 
NOT RIGHT, NOT FAIR, NOT JUST, 
YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO 
SAY SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING, 
STAND UP.
SPEAK UP.
SPEAK OUT!
♪♪
♪♪
