(Jewish Group) U.S. Jewish Groups Mourn John Lewis, a Civil Rights Hero and 'Longtime Friend'

[Behind the Aegis]

WASHINGTON – Leading Jewish organizations in the United States are mourning the death of Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights leader who for decades had been an ally of the Jewish community in the United States.

Lewis passed away on Friday night at the age of 80 after a months-long battle with cancer. He was the youngest and last survivor of the Big Six civil rights activists, a group led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that had the greatest impact on the movement. He was best known for leading some 600 protesters in the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma in 1965.

For decades, he has been a symbol of cooperation between U.S. Jews and the African-American community in their battle for equality and justice.

Expressing its condolences, the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement it is mourning “The loss of a civil rights giant and an American hero”, calling Lewis “the conscience of Congress.” The organization’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, has called Lewis in the past “our nation’s moral compass.”

“Lewis was a fearless leader whose courage and heroism was on display each and every day fighting for a more just world,” ADL wrote on its Twitter account. “May his memory be a blessing.” Earlier this year, the ADL’s southeastern branch chose to give Lewis a lifetime achievement award for his activism and leadership.

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[MosheFeingold]

1. John Lewis was a complicated guy

He sought Jewish support early elections.

He used to always say he felt a personal affinity with the Jewish community because the word "Jew" had the same negative connotations as “n---r.” He compared the Jewish slavery days to black slavery. He recalled the strong alliances between the Black and Jewish community during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

As he got older, things changed. When the Jewish community asked him to reciprocate help, he never spoke out against the growing antisemitism on college campuses and in public schools. He just couldn't be bothered. He started openly hanging out with members of the black community who had, to be kind, dim views of Jewish people and Israel.

Then he started to become more overt: he boycotted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech. Said some rather unpleasant (and untrue) things about Israel.

Most recently he sponsored H. Res. 496 introduced by Representative Ilan Omar, the purpose of which was to support the "Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction" of Israel.

So, while he was a great man, he ended on a poor note.