In the News

A member of Martin Luther King, Jr.‘s inner circle during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and one of the longest-serving representatives in the House of Representatives, John Lewis died Friday after battling pancreatic cancer.

While Lewis served as the U.S. Rep. for the Fifth District of Georgia since 1987, he also had an outsized impact in Springfield as well.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, was a close friend of Lewis’s and sat next to him on the House Ways and Means Committee for more than 25 years. Neal said at a press conference Saturday that Lewis earned his nickname, “The Conscience of the House.”

“He lived out his religious convictions,” Neal said. “He was very passionate about his politics but very kind and gentle. He always felt that if you can successfully recruit, you should recruit. He brought an awful lot of people around to his side of the issues with his quiet demeanor. He was extraordinarily well regarded and not just in the House of Representatives. I have lost a good friend.”

Fellow Congressman, First District U.S. Rep. James McGovern called Lewis a “great man, but more importantly, he was a very good man.”

“…I will (never) forget John’s unshakable optimism and hopefulness during these challenging times. John often spoke of a struggle that lasts beyond a single day, week, month or year. He called it a struggle of a lifetime — but it was never his fight alone. He called on all of us to rise to the occasion and do what is right, even when it is not easy.”

Lewis is the last of the speakers at the 1968 Lincoln Memorial demonstration at which Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. His contemporary C.J. Vivian, who also spoke at the demonstration, died earlier Friday.

Lewis was the youngest of King’s tight circle during the demonstrations and marches of the Civil Rights Era and was one of hundreds injured during what has become known as “Bloody Sunday,” March 7, 1965. Several hundred Voting Rights Marchers approached the outskirts was Selma, Alabama that Sunday morning and as marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge Alabama State Troopers brutalized marchers, including many children, beating them with batons, spraying them with water cannons and using vicious dogs to bite and rip, to try to prevent the march from continuing.

Neal said Lewis suffered a severe skull fracture in the beatings and later was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Even after that, Neal said Lewis never lost his kindness.

“John was known for his compassion and kindness. When it came to nonviolence and kindness, John Lewis was the real deal.”

Anthony Cignoli met Lewis several times, including when he came to Springfield to speak at the 2015 Elms College commencement. Cignoli sat on the Board of Trustees at the college and was instrumental in arranging the visit.

“I had met John at several conferences and on other campaigns,” Cignoli said. “I was amazed that he would come here and speak on the day that was the 50th Anniversary of the Selma March. Of all the places where John Lewis could have spoken that day, he came to Springfield. He told me he wanted to come here to be able to say thank you to the Sisters of St. Joseph. Members of the order were at the Pettus Bridge that day and provided medical help for people. John swore his life was saved by those nuns.”

Ben Swan was involved with the Civil Rights movement and marched with King and Lewis in the south. He was with Lewis right after the Pettus Bridge police riot and said Lewis knew what could happen when the marchers crossed the bridge.

“He had faith but not much choice. In order to be a full citizen, you have to pay the dues. John and a lot of people were tremendous human beings. He gave more than a whole bunch of people.”

Henry Thomas was involved in the Civil Rights movement in Springfield and knew Lewis through conferences and meetings. He said he feels an “emptiness” with Lewis’s passing.

“There is a void where someone like him who is bigger than life in terms of the impact he had on the nation is no longer with us,” Thomas said. “I am sure he would disagree with me about that. He was about going forward and getting it done. He always said, ‘If you see something or hear something that is not right, do something. Don’t let it go unchallenged.’ He always followed up with, ‘and don’t ever give up.’ John left us a template for what needs to be done and how to do it.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno met Lewis at an event in the Old First Church on Court Square several years ago. He remembered Lewis as humble but resolute.

“Congressman Lewis was genuine, humble and powerful in his works of respect and unity. His legacy of, ‘If something is not right, just and fair — speak out,’ will live on.”

Senator Edward Markey called Lewis the “North Star” America needs to look to as it confronts its moral reckoning.

“Congressman John Lewis knew better than anyone how to build and lead a movement and modeled the kind of world we want to create. …his spirit flowed through every single protester on America’s streets chanting ‘Black Lives Matter’ and making good trouble.”

State Rep. Bud Williams said Lewis had an indefinable quality about him that you knew he would not stop until he completed his task.

“He had so much courage,” Williams said. “I think he also had grit, that thing that gets things done. He was intelligent and tenacious. With his grit he got things done. He was about voting rights, the most precious thing we have. We are out there saying Black Lives Matter, and he would agree, but he would also say Black Votes Matter as well.”

“He was a giant in the Civil Rights Movement for racial equality and for racial justice.”