Congressman John Lewis, born on Feb. 21, 1940, has been the Democratic U.S. Consultant for Georgia’s fifth congressional district since 1987 and in addition serves as dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. Often called one of many “Large Six” leaders of the civil rights motion, Lewis has made it his life’s work to guard human rights.
Rising up, Lewis participated in sit-ins, non-violent protests, the 1961 Freedom Rides and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. He additionally served as one of many founding members of the Pupil Non-violent Coordinating Committee and was elected chairman of the group in 1963, a place he held for 3 years.
His tenacity for civil rights — regardless of being overwhelmed, arrested dozens of occasions and tear-gassed by mounted troopers — earned him huge respect each as a younger man combating by means of segregation and in Congress.
Lewis died on July 17, 2020 after a protracted battle with pancreatic most cancers at age 80.
This 12 months, John Lewis would have turned 81 years outdated. BET is wishing the congressman and civil rights hero a really blissful birthday!
