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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E695-E696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGACY OF THE HON. JOHN LEWIS
______
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I will always remember my last
conversation with a
[[Page E696]]
dear friend and colleague, the Honorable John Lewis of Georgia. John
had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he was undergoing
treatment. Yet it didn't affect his kindness, his warm smile, or the
gentle touch of his hand. John greeted me and we chatted. It was
memorable because it was so natural, normal, and it turned out to also
be good-bye.
For nearly twenty years I have served in the Congress with John
Lewis, a civil rights champion and legend. His personal journey
extended from sharecropper fields in Alabama to civil rights leader,
Member of Congress to national treasure. John's voice had the moral
authority of a man who had been tested by injustice and tormented by
the defenders of injustice. John marched on the frontline of America's
struggle for civil rights, voting rights, equal rights and he still had
the profound goodness to listen to adversaries, seek goodness in all
people, and forgive those who hurt him. John Lewis marched with Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. on behalf of Black Americans who were treated
as second class citizens by Jim Crow laws, but his lifetime of service
and sacrifice, his lifetime of love, was for all mankind. John was a
powerful force for good, for righteousness, and for justice.
There are many books written about John's civil rights legacy and
many more will be written. His life should be a lesson to all of us and
especially to future generations of Americans who will continue to work
to overcome inequality as our country strives to be a more perfect
union. The courage, commitment and compassion of John's life is well
documented and rightly honored. There was another John Lewis that I
will remember and cherish.
On numerous occasions over the years John and I had the opportunity
to sit on the House floor during votes and just chat. We chatted about
everyday matters. John loved gardening. He talked with great expertise
about flowers. It was a special joy in his life that I loved hearing
him talk about. And sometimes a conversation on flowers would lead to
one on climate change.
Once, we discussed another matter of seeming significance to John--
fishing. He told me he liked to go fishing but obligations and official
commitments made finding the time difficult. I invited him to visit me
in Minnesota during the winter and told him I would share a special
experience with him--ice fishing. Well, John smiled and laughed and
very graciously informed me that such a thing made no sense to him and
he would pass on the invitation.
John Lewis lived by the ``Golden Rule''--Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you. He worked so hard to live by that rule that he
made it look easy for those of us who are not as strong, disciplined,
or courageous. I know John had his struggles, but he was a shining
example for all who knew him and my life is richer, more full because
of his generosity, kindness, and determination.
The passing of Rep. John Lewis is a sad and painful loss for his
family, friends, and his congressional staff who loved him very much.
It is also a difficult loss for his Georgia constituents, his
congressional colleagues, and our entire nation. May God bless the soul
of John Lewis and all who loved him. I am eternally grateful to have
known John and called him my friend and colleague.
____________________