Conversation with Congressman John Lewis on Issues in Congress
Congressman John Lewis was a leading figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and played a key role in the struggle to end segregation. He is a member of Congress and has represented Georgia's 5th District since 1987. The Andrew Young School was proud to host Congressman Lewis for a discussion on Congressional issues.
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Time: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Location: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Seminar Room, 7th Floor, 14 Marietta Street, NW
There was a pre-reception at 1:30 p.m. for individuals wanting to meet Congressman Lewis.
This event was free and open to all faculty, staff, and students of Georgia State University.
Rep. John Lewis Biography
Often called "one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced," John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls "The Beloved Community" in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress.
Sen. John McCain has said, "I've seen courage in action on many occasions. I can't say I've seen anyone possess more of it, and use it for any better purpose and to any greater effect, than John Lewis." The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has called Rep. Lewis "the conscience of the U.S. Congress." And Roll Call magazine has said, "John Lewis...is a genuine American hero and moral leader who commands widespread respect in the chamber."
Rep. Lewis was born the son of sharecroppers on February 21, 1940, outside of Troy, Alabama. He grew up on his family's farm and attended segregated public schools in Pike County, Alabama. As a young boy, he was inspired by the activism surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., which he heard on radio broadcasts. In those pivotal moments, he made a decision to become a part of the Civil Rights Movement. Ever since then, he has remained at the vanguard of progressive social movements and the human rights struggle in the United States.
