Pulled in a horse-drawn carriage, Rep. John Lewis' casket made a final journey on the route of his 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
As Lewis was drawn across the bridge, it was covered in red rose petals to represent the blood that was shed there. Onlookers lined the edges of the bridge to pay their final respects to Lewis.The bridge is named after a Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader. Following Rep. Lewis’ death from pancreatic cancer on July 17, calls to rename the bridge — which
— were revived, and a petition calling to name the bridge after Lewis has received nearly half a million signatures. Ava DuVernay, who directed the movielargely fiercely opposed to changing the name of the bridge. Some say the city will lose out on tourism if the bridge is given a new name. Others say it isn’t fair to name it after Lewis, when local civil rights activists fought in Selma for years before he arrived there in the 1960s. As that discussion is ongoing, the bridge remains named after someone who was praised in the late 1960s for fighting against Black political power, even as Black citizens had been granted the right to vote.
Lewis’ memorial will continue throughout this week, with events in his home state of Alabama before he lies in state in Washington. His funeral will be held on Thursday at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once led.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rep. John Lewis to be taken across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.byronpitts says John Lewis' biggest concern when crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday was that he might be tossed off the bridge because he couldn't swim - but he was willing to go forward anyway.
Read more »
Rep. John Lewis taken across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.rachelvscott describes the growing calls to try to get the Edmund Pettus Bridge renamed in honor of John Lewis.
Read more »
6-day celebration of life for Rep. John Lewis continues MondayAs part of a six-day celebration of the life and legacy of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, the late congressman crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, for a final time.
Read more »
Body of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis arrives at Ala. state CapitolMasked members of the armed services carried the body of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis to the Ala., state Capitol where he will be remembered by friends and family.
Read more »
Rep. Clyburn to introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2020The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2020 will be introduced in the House on Monday, Rep. and House Majority Whip James Clyburn tells AM JOY. Clyburn also tells host Tiffany Cross, ‘Most people know that this is a democracy, and this democracy has shown the world how to govern for centuries. We cannot allow one uncouth person to take us back.’
Read more »
Congress to Pay Respects to Civil-Rights Icon Rep. John LewisCongress was set to pay its respects to the late Rep. John Lewis, the civil-rights leader whose nonviolent tactics helped usher in a landmark voting-rights law aimed at bringing an end to the Jim Crow era of political suppression of Black Americans.
Read more »