A quick primer on John Lewis' history of sit-ins and arrests while he has been in Congress

[ehrnst]

Some here on DU are unfamiliar with the history of civil disobedience that John Lewis has in political life.

He's been arrested five times during his time in Congress.

In 2013, Lewis and fellow Congressmen Joe Crowley, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Jan Schakowsky, Keith Ellison, Al Green, Charlie Rangel joined more than 100 activists and started a "peaceful sit-in blocking a street in the front of the Capitol." The protest was part of the Camino Americano Rally for Immigrant Dignity and Respect, an effort to restart immigration reform in Congress.

In the 80's he was arrested twice at the South African embassy protesting apartheid, and in 2006, twice at the Embassy of the Sudan protesting genocide in Darfur.

It should then surprise no one that John Lewis inspired and led this sit-in in in the wake of the Orlando shootings, a hate crime against the LGBTQ community, and the resulting congressional inaction in the face of the worst mass public shooting in our history. He has always challenged the status quo when it was unacceptable.

http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/10/08/congressman-john-lewis-adds-arrest-no-45-at-least-to-rap-sheet

[Silver_Witch]

1. John Lewis for VICE PRESIDENT!!!

He is my hero!

[Bluenorthwest]

2. July 11 1996- Representative John Lewis remarks on DOMA:

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia:
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my friend and colleague for yielding me the time.

Let me say to the gentleman that when I was growing up in the south during the 1940s and the 1950s, the great majority of the people in that region believed that black people should not be able to enter places of public accommodation, and they felt that black people should not be able to register to vote, and many people felt that was right but that was wrong. I think as politicians, as elected officials, we should not only follow but we must lead, lead our districts, not put our fingers into the wind to see which way the air is blowing but be leaders.

Mr. Chairman, this is a mean bill. It is cruel. This bill seeks to divide our nation, turn Americans against Americans, sew the seeds of fear, hatred and intolerance. Let us remember the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths self-evident that all people are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This bill is a slap in the face of the Declaration of Independence. It denies gay men and women the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Marriage is a basic human right. You cannot tell people they cannot fall in love. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used to say when people talked about interracial marriage and I quote, `Races do not fall in love and get married. Individuals fall in love and get married.'

Why do you not want your fellow men and women, your fellow Americans to be happy? Why do you attack them? Why do you want to destroy the love they hold in their hearts? Why do you want to crush their hopes, their dreams, their longings, their aspirations?

We are talking about human beings, people like you, people who want to get married, buy a house, and spend their lives with the one they love. They have done no wrong.

I will not turn my back on another American. I will not oppress my fellow human being. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Mr. Chairman, I have known racism. I have known bigotry. This bill stinks of the same fear, hatred and intolerance. It should not be called the Defense of Marriage Act. It should be called the defense of mean-spirited bigots act.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, to have the courage to do what is right. This bill appeals to our worst fears and emotions. It encourages hatred of our fellow Americans for political advantage. Every word, every purpose, every message is wrong. It is not the right thing to do, to divide Americans.

We are moving toward the 21st century. Let us come together and create one nation, one people, one family, one house, the American house, the American family, the American nation.
http://www.glaa.org/archive/1996/lewis796.shtml

[ehrnst]

3. He's been a voice for the people since 1977. (nt)

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Only 67 Members of the House voted No on DOMA...and Lewis spared no words in telling the

majority how very wrong they were.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. Wonder why he endorsed the candidate he did then...(with all due respect)

"I think as politicians, as elected officials, we should not only follow but we must lead, lead our districts, not put our fingers into the wind to see which way the air is blowing but be leaders. "

[riversedge]

4. Thanks for the post.

[brer cat]

6. Nice OP, ehrnst.

One of my favorite John Lewis quotes was during a commencement speech:

"You have a mandate to get out and disturb the order of things." He showed us yesterday just how that can be done.

[lark]

7. He's one of our true heros.

[ismnotwasm]

8. K&R

[Her Sister]

10. Yes in 2013 got arrested for a sit-in in front of Capitol

to try to advance immigration reform. BRAVO!

[Starry Messenger]

11. Obviously resting on his laurels.