American hero Representative John Lewis is dead

Published

I will post more tomorrow. Too sad now.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Very emotional Montgomery to Selma for the last time for John Lewis.

I believe John Lewis took the FREEDOM to live his life as he wanted. I heard people singing "Oh Freedom" on our TV as we watched the coffin put back in the heorifice in Selma. I choose Harry Belafonte because he was there.

Tony Bennett marched with Belafonte that day.

Pete Seeger was there too. He was the first person to sing "We Shall Overcome" at Highlander in 1957. It had previously been sung up-tempo as "We will Overcome":

Septemner 1957 Pete_.jpg

Septemner 1957 Pete_.jpg
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AL highways were crowded yesterday. There were people from all over going to his funeral. I was going to visit family but I could tell they were going there because the traffic was only heavy on that side of the highway. I65S was full!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

'Emmett Till was my George Floyd,' John Lewis says in posthumous New York Times op-ED. He wrote the essay shortly before his death, requesting it be published on the day of his funeral.

Quote

Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

Though I am gone, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.

While my time here has now come to an end, I want you to know that in the last days and hours of my life you inspired me. You filled me with hope about the next chapter of the great American story when you used your power to make a difference in our society. Millions of people motivated simply by human compassion laid down the burdens of division. Around the country and the world you set aside race, class, age, language and nationality to demand respect for human dignity.

That is why I had to visit Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, though I was admitted to the hospital the following day. I just had to see and feel it for myself that, after many years of silent witness, the truth is still marching on....

...Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it....

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html

The media reports of John Lewis life and the oratory heard at his funeral so refreshing from the bombastic language dominating the airwaves past 4 years.

VOTE!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

President Barack Obama Eulogy@ Rep. Lewis funeral today

Quote

"You want to honor John, let's honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for." —

@BarackObama calls on Congress to expand the Voting Rights Act

https://Twitter.com/I/status/1288901022748827653

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

In 2009 Len Chandler performed at Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon with the Indigo Girls and others. I was there with a group of nurses for that wonderful sing along and fundraiser for a food bank.

https://theatricum.com/

Len Chandler was a Freedom Rider with John Lewis ans the other heros. He wrote this wonderful song "Keep On Keepin' On. He marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge many times, including the first time when they were stopped.

He also wrote the fun song "Beans In My Ears" that was a hit by the Serendipity Singers.

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