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John Lewis (1940-2020)

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Often called  “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” John Lewis dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he called “The Beloved Community” in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress.

John Lewis held a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Fisk University and was a graduate of the American Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He was awarded over 50 honorary degrees from prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States, including Harvard University, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Duke University, Morehouse College, Clark-Atlanta University, Howard University, Brandeis University, Columbia University, Fisk University and Troy State University.

John Lewis died in July 2020. In December 2019, the 80-year-old civil rights icon had announced that he was fighting against advanced pancreatic cancer.

Updated July 2020