John Lewis
John Lewis was a civil rights leader and politician known for his activism and leadership in the civil rights movement.
Political Figure
February 21, 1940
Pisces
July 17, 2020
80
Troy, Alabama, United States
John Lewis, born on February 21, 1940, near Troy, Alabama, was a prominent American civil rights leader and politician. As a key figure in the civil rights movement, he served as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was one of the ‘Big Six’ leaders in the 1960s. Lewis is best known for leading the 1965 march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, a landmark event in the fight for voting rights that was met with police violence. He continued advocating for people’s rights after being elected to Congress in 1987.
Throughout his life, Lewis held various roles and received numerous accolades. He represented Georgia’s 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, and received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Spingarn Medal in 2000. He authored the memoir “Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement” and participated in documentaries such as “John Lewis: Good Trouble” and “Selma.”
In summary, John Lewis was a renowned civil rights leader and politician, recognized for his leadership in the Selma to Montgomery march and his role in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His legacy includes serving in Congress, earning prestigious awards, and contributing to documentaries and memoirs.
