The new US Senators from Georgia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, have introduced a resolution to honor the life and work of the late Rep. John Lewis.
The resolution was drafted by Sen. Ossoff, marking his first piece of legislation the senator drafted. Ossoff, who interned for Rep. Lewis as a high schooler, spoke about the civil rights icon’s legacy.
“Congressman Lewis has passed, but he lives on through his towering legacy, his powerful ideas, and his monumental accomplishments. One of the greatest figures in American history, John R. Lewis was a passionate and courageous champion of peace, justice, and human dignity whose selfless work advanced voting and civil rights for millions of Americans.”
Rep. Lewis passed away last July and would’ve turned 81 this week. As a young man, Rep. Lewis marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and organized other young folks to get involved with the movement. Throughout his career, he was a strong proponent for voting rights.
“The legacy Congressman John Lewis leaves is a point of eternal pride for the state of Georgia. He believed in the promise and the power of the vote, and the way people can right our country’s grave mistakes by strengthening our democracy,” Sen. Warnock said, according to WSB-TV.
Rep. Nikema Williams who is Rep. Lewis’ s successor for Georgia’s 5th District, also has plans to introduce a similar measure in the US House.
“Congressman Lewis sacrificed so much and risked his life so people who look like me could enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted today,” Williams said. “He was a humanitarian, visionary leader, and change agent whose fight for civil and voting rights has inspired people for generations.”
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