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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJOHN LEWIS: 50 yrs later: "I am not going to stand by and let SCOTUS take the right to vote away"
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) who was the youngest speaker during the March on Washington in 1963 delivered a passionate address about the importance of protecting voting rights at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial fifty years later, as thousands gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the historic event on Saturday.
When I stood here 50 years ago, I said one man, one vote is the African cry. It is ours, too. it must be ours, he began, before connecting the demands of 1963 to todays struggles. Almost 50 years ago, I gave a little blood on that bridge in Selma, Alabama, for the right to vote. I am not going to stand by and let the Supreme Court take the right to vote away from us!
LEWIS: You cannot stand by. You cannot sit down. You have to stand up, speak up, speak out and get in the way. Make some noise. The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. Its the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society and weve got to use it. Back in 1963 we didnt have a cellular telephone, iPad, iPod, but we used what we had to bring about a non-violent revolution. And I said to all of the young people, you must get out there and push and pull and make America what America should be for all of us. We must say to the Congress, Fix the Voting Rights Act
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http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/08/24/2523101/john-lewis-march-washington-going-stand-let-supreme-court-vote/
senseandsensibility
(17,066 posts)I hope the young people listen to him.
lumpy
(13,704 posts)n
Cha
(297,323 posts)life long demo
(1,113 posts)I remember seeing a video of Rep. Lewis sitting with the man who beat him. The man asked for forgiveness from Rep. Lewis. And he gave it. Yes, Rep. John Lewis is my hero. I also remember (I hope I'm correct on this) when he and some other Representatives had to walk close to a tbaggers demo and they started shouting insults at them. That may have been last year, but not sure of that. If anyone can add to this, please do.
jessie04
(1,528 posts).