[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 130 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H3696-H3697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart this morning to 
remember our colleague, John Lewis.
  He was a hero to me. He was my friend. I am going to miss his smile, 
his soft voice that could quickly become a bellow. I will miss his 
hugs, his eternal optimism, and his hope that we would heed his advice 
and ``keep the faith.''
  John had a long and special relationship with my family, with my 
grandmother in particular. They went through a lot together. They 
survived a lot. They witnessed a lot.
  She asked me to read a letter here today in his memory. She writes:

       Dear friends,
       Our hearts are heavy, but also grateful for the gift of 
     John Lewis, a man who devoted his life to making gentle the 
     life of this world.
       John's loving demeanor enveloped a mighty determination and 
     passion for justice, equality, and the realization of his 
     dream for the ``Beloved Community.''
       A young man full of fire and ideals, qualities that he 
     never lost, he was a trusted voice to my husband, Robert 
     Kennedy, relied upon, first, as a student demonstrator and, 
     later, as a campaign aide.
       Activist, lawmaker, champion, he was also a teacher and a 
     cherished friend.
       He and Bobby learned from one another. They listened, they 
     understood, they acted.
       As a Freedom Rider, John was badly beaten at a bus stop in 
     Montgomery, Alabama, in 1961. From the basement of the First 
     Baptist Church where John, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ralph 
     Abernathy sought refuge, they called Bobby asking for 
     protection from a crowd of armed White supremacists 
     surrounding the church. President Kennedy sent in the 
     National Guard.
       In Indianapolis, the night we lost Dr. King, John 
     influenced Bobby's decision to ignore Mayor Lugar's plea to 
     cancel a rally, instead seeking to comfort and seeking 
     comfort from a devastated crowd of Black supporters.

[[Page H3697]]

       As the youngest speaker at the March on Washington, his was 
     a clarion call to end racial segregation and discrimination 
     in the United States. Over half a century later, as unrest 
     over systemic violence against Black Americans gripped our 
     Nation in recent weeks, John reinforced what he knew was 
     true:
       ``You cannot stop the call of history,'' the Congressman 
     said. ``You may use troopers. You may use fire hoses and 
     water, but it cannot be stopped. There cannot be any turning 
     back. We have come too far. We have made too much progress to 
     stop now and go back.''
       John was witness to our Nation's history; he shaped it and 
     his legacy will forever be part of that history. When I think 
     of John and Bobby, I am reminded of Stephen Spender's poem, 
     ``The Truly Great.''

     . . . those who in their lives fought for life,
     Who wore at their hearts the fire's centre.
     Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun,
     And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
       Sincerely,
       Ethel Kennedy.

                          ____________________