On Thursday, three former presidents, Speaker of the House, family, and friends came together to celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis at his funeral in Atlanta, Georgia. Here are some standout moments from the service.
1. The motorcade carrying John Lewis’ body paused in the middle of Atlanta’s rainbow crosswalk
The hearse carrying John Lewis’ body paused at a rainbow crosswalk in Atlanta in honor of Lewis’ advocacy for the LGBTQ community.
“I fought too long and too hard to end discrimination based on race and color, to not stand up against discrimination against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters,” Lewis wrote on his website.
2. George W. Bush promoted “differences in opinion”
Former President George W. Bush was among the first living presidents to pay homage to Lewis, noting that Lewis’ dedication to “faith, love, democracy, and God” made today’s America possible.
Bush acknowledged that while he and the congressman had their many differences of opinion, the disagreements were necessary to maintain a functioning democracy.
“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,” he said. “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.”
3. Bill Clinton Talked About his Intimate Friendship with Lewis
Former President Bill Clinton referred to Lewis as “a man I loved for a long time,” and reflected on Lewis’ humanity, humility, and character.
“I think it’s important for all of us who loved him to remember that he was, after all, a human being,” he said. “John Lewis was many things, but he was a man.”
Like Bush, he remembered the moments he shared with Lewis, whose friendship with him spanned for almost fifty years. Clinton also recalled Lewis’ willingness to make the most out of every situation, even when he was arrested.
To close, Clinton conjured Lewis’ last words from an op-ed published on Thursday morning in The New York Times, in which Lewis encouraged people to make “good trouble.”
4. Barack Obama made a call to action
Former President Barack Obama delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy commending Lewis for his lifelong commitment to activism and leadership.
In addition to his personal relationship to Lewis, Obama reflected on Lewis’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and his unwavering courage in the face of immediate danger.
Obama offered a critique of the current political climate, referencing both police brutality and voter discrimination laws.
“Bull Connor 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 using tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators,” he siad. “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 darnedest to discourage people from voting.”
Obama urged people to pick up Lewis’ torch and continue to work towards an “inclusive” America by voting.
5. Morgan Freeman Read ‘Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation’
The ever-so-talented, Oscar-winning Morgan Freeman read Lewis’ final essay, “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation,” published in the New York Times.
In his final words, Lewis warned against complicity, advocated for peace and called for younger generations to be the ones who overcome hate.
