John Lewis - Get in the Way

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

John Lewis has crossed over the final bridge. The last of the Big Six civil rights leaders is gone. If courage had a name, it was his. He leaves us at a time when the stakes of all for which he struggled couldn't be higher. For John Lewis, voting was sacramental. He shed his blood for us to exercise this most fundamental of rights. Forevermore, generations, starting with this one, will honor him by casting their ballots. A secular communion meant to strengthen our democracy. His roar as the conscience of the Congress will echo down through history. Few who ever lived have done more to inspire change. His truth goes marching on.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

I JUST HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT IN EVERY PERSONALITY THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD, THERE'S SOMETHING DECENT, THERE'S SOMETHING SACRED. AND WE DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO GO AROUND DAMAGING ANOTHER PERSONALITY. SO I BELIEVE IN NONVIOLENCE AS A WAY OF LIFE, AS A WAY OF LIVING. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ASSASSINATED MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, APRIL 4TH, 1968.

LEWIS

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

TELL THE STORY. TELL THE STORY. AND TELL IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE MUST FREE OURSELVES, THE WAY OF VIOLENCE, THE WAY OF DIVISION. WE CAN LAY DOWN THIS HEAVY BURDEN. HATE IS TOO HEAVY A BURDEN TO BEAR. WITH MOST PEOPLE, THEY JUST DON'T SEE JOHN LEWIS GIVING A SPEECH, THEY FEEL JOHN LEWIS IN TERMS OF WHAT HE'S DONE AND THE IMPACT ON THIS COUNTRY, SO THEREFORE THEY LISTEN. HERE IS SOMEBODY WHO WALKED INTO FIRE HOSES AND CATTLE PRODS AND BEATINGS AND REMAINED ABSOLUTELY NONVIOLENT. WHAT JOHN LEWIS DID, MOST AMERICANS COULD NEVER DO, TO BE BEATEN AND NOT FIGHT BACK.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

IT IS A RARE HONOR IN THIS LIFE TO FOLLOW ONE OF YOUR HEROES. AND JOHN LEWIS IS ONE OF MY HEROES. HIS EXPERIENCE IS SEARED INTO OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY. PEOPLE DIED FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE. FRIENDS OF MINE. COLLEAGUES OF MINE. JOHN PUT HIS FORCE OF HIS SOUL AGAINST THE SYSTEM. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE MUST BRING THIS WAR TO AN END. AND HE HAS NOT, UM-- HE'S NOT WAVERED.

APPLAUSE

LEWIS

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP DOWN WITHIN ME, MOVING ME, THAT I COULD NO LONGER BE SATISFIED OR GO ALONG WITH AN EVIL SYSTEM.

LEWIS

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

I WOULD ASK MY MOTHER, I WOULD ASK MY FATHER, MY GRANDPARENTS, "WHY? WHY THIS? WHY THAT?" THEY SAID "DON'T GET IN TROUBLE. DON'T GET IN THE WAY."

ANNOUNCER

HENRY LOUIS GATES JR

"JOHN

LEWIS

GET IN THE WAY" WAS MADE POSSIBLE

MUSIC PLAYING

MICHAEL COLLINS

LEWIS

THE CONGRESSMAN AND I HAVE THIS RUNNING JOKE ABOUT HOW I THINK HE'S A NICER PERSON IN ATLANTA THAN HE IS IN WASHINGTON. -I'M GOING BACK TO ATLANTA. -ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. HE'S MORE FUN-LOVING AND GOING, GOING, GOING, GOING, ALL THE TIME.

LEWIS

LEWIS

IF WE CAN WORK IT OUT, IT'D BE GOOD TO GO THERE. TRY TO SAVE THOSE TWO SEATS. YEAH, BUT YOU GO TO LAS VEGAS. THIS THURSDAY? -NO, THURSDAY THE 21ST. -RIGHT. WE CAN LEAVE OUR SORROW BEHIND EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE TIME TO SHINE... YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE. THERE'S A LOT OF HOT DOGS, EAT THE HOT DOGS.

LEWIS

LEWIS

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS DISTRICT, THEY CALL ME THEIR SON, THEIR BABY. -HEY, NICE SEEING YOU. -GOOD TO SEE YOU NOW, TAKE IT EASY. JERRY, YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THE BLACKBERRY, DON'T YOU? YEAH, I KNOW HOW TO DO BLACKBERRY. THEY WALK UP AND THEY SAY, "I'M SO PROUD OF YOU." I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I WALKED WITH DR. KING -JUST IF I CAN STAND NEXT TO YOU. -THANK YOU.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD, REALLY. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME HOME TO THAT RESERVOIR AND COME BACK TO GET A LITTLE STRENGTH. I COME FROM SOUTHEAST ALABAMA. I GREW UP ON A FARM. MY FATHER WAS A SHARECROPPER. BUT THAT WAS LIFE GROWING UP IN RURAL ALABAMA IN THE '50S. GROWING UP THERE, I SAW THOSE SIGNS THAT SAID, "WHITE MEN." I SAW THOSE SIGNS THAT SAID, "COLORED MEN." WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I WAS BUSSED LONG DISTANCES OVER UNPAVED ROADS, DUSTY IN SUMMER AND MUDDY IN WINTER, TO ATTEND OVERCROWDED, POORLY STAFFED, SEGREGATED SCHOOLS. THE EVIL SYSTEM OF SEGREGATION HAVE BEEN BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF RACISM, GREED, HATRED, AND THE DENIAL OF HUMAN NEEDS. IT WAS A CLOSED SOCIETY, AND EVERYWHERE I TURNED... HI, LOLA, HOW YOU DOING? HOW YA DOING? -GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED ONE BIT. -NEITHER HAVE YOU. BABY, YOU MAY HAVE PUT ON A POUND OR TWO.

LAUGHS

LOLA FELTON

LEWIS

HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PREACHER. AND HE WOULD CARRY HIS BIBLE ALL AROUND WITH HIM. AND WE'D HAVE HIM PREACHIN', AND COURSE HE WAS SINCERE, BUT WE WERE NOT, YOU KNOW. WE WOULD JUST LAUGH. AND I'M GONNA TELL THE CHICKEN STORY TODAY. I FELL IN LOVE WITH RAISIN' CHICKENS. AND I RAISED THOSE CHICKENS LIKE NO ONE ELSE COULD RAISE CHICKENS. SEE, I GREW UP WITH THE IDEA OF BECOMING A PREACHER. -THAT'S RIGHT. -I WAS GONNA BE A MINISTER. AND I USED TO RAISE CHICKENS. I USED TO PREACH TO THE CHICKENS. HE DID. IT WAS GREAT. ONE OCCASION, I TRIED TO BAPTIZE A CHICKEN. I TRIED TO SAVE THE SOUL OF A CHICKEN. SO WHAT YA ALL FEED THESE CHICKENS?

WOMAN

LEWIS

WE FEED THEM CORN. CRACKED CORN. AND ON OCCASION, A CHICKEN WOULD GET SICK AND A CHICKEN WOULD DIE. WE BURIED THEM. WE BURIED THEM. WE HAD A CHICKEN CEMETERY. -I DELIVERED A EULOGY AT THE FUNERAL. -RIGHT. AND HE WOULD PREACH SO, AND HE'D MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE WERE AT AN ACTUAL FUNERAL. WE'D BE CRYING AT SOME CHICKEN'S FUNERAL. HE WAS A SLOW BUILD. THIS IS MY UNCLE, JAMES CARTER. THIS IS MY MOTHER'S BROTHER. AND THIS IS A COUSIN, JAMES BOSWITH.

LEWIS

LEWIS

I HAVE SIX BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS. HAD MANY, MANY FIRST COUSINS THAT LIVED NEARBY. MAKE IT LEVEL. AND THIS IS SAM. THIS IS-- TAKE YOUR HAT OFF, SAM. YOU SEE? THIS IS JOHN'S IMAGE. SOMETIMES SHE CALLS ME HIM AND CALLS HIM ME.

TYNER LAUGHS

LEWIS

LEWIS

MANY OF THE VALUES THAT I ACQUIRED CAME FROM MY MOTHER AND FROM MY FATHER. THEY BELIEVED THAT YOU SHOULD TREAT PEOPLE FAIR AND YOU SHOULD BE KIND TO EVERYBODY. IT'S A GOOD SEASON OF THE YEAR TO HAVE A GOOD MEAL TOGETHER. EVERYBODY EAT, AND EAT ALL OF THIS FOOD. ALL OF THAT WAS FIELD. WE GREW COTTON, AND ON THE TERRACE, WE HAD TOMATOES AND PEAS. IT'D BE SO HOT OUT THERE SOMETIMES, IN THE HOT SUN, AND I WOULD JUST PRAY FOR IT TO RAIN OR A CLOUD TO COME OVER.

TYNER

LEWIS

HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK. -IT'S NOT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO WORK, -ALL RIGHT. IT WAS I DIDN'T LIKE THE WHOLE IDEA WORKING IN THE FIELD. I USED TO ARGUE WITH FATHER AND WITH MY MOTHER, SAYING THEY WAS JUST GAMBLING. -REALLY, THAT THEY THEY WAS... -SLAVERY. SLAVERY. THEY WAS TAKING CHANCE. THEY GO AND THEY BORROW HERE AND BORROW THERE, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR THEY DIDN'T MAKE ANYTHING. IT WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY, AND MOST PEOPLE SORT OF ACCEPTED IT. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

LEWIS

WE, THE DISINHERITED OF THIS LAND. WE, WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED SO LONG ARE TIRED OF GOING THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT OF CAPTIVITY.

LEWIS

LEWIS

IN 1955, I HEARD MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SPEAKIN' ON THE RADIO. AND I FELT LIKE HE WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO ME, SAYING JOHN LEWIS, JOHN ROBERT LEWIS, YOU TOO CAN DO SOMETHING.

KING

LEWIS

AND WE, THE NEGRO CITIZENS OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA DO NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY ON OUR MASS PROTEST.

CHEERING

ANDREW YOUNG

LEWIS

THE BUS BOYCOTT WAS NOT A CONFRONTATION WITH SEGREGATION. IT WAS A WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT FROM SEGREGATION. AND BACK DURING THAT TIME, BLACKS HAD TO SIT IN THE REAR OF THE BUS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RIDE AT FRONT SEAT OF THE BUS. THEY WOULD PUT THEIR MONEY IN THE SLOT UP FRONT AND WOULD HAVE TO WALK TO THE BACK OF THE BUS TO BOARD AT THE BACK DOOR, AND OFTEN BEFORE THEY COULD GET BACK THERE, THE DRIVER WOULD PULL OFF. SO WHEN ROSA DECIDED SHE WAS NOT GONNA GIVE UP HER SEAT THAT SET OFF THE BOYCOTT. NOBODY RODE THE BUSES. 50,000 PEOPLE STOOD TOGETHER. WE WALKED IN THE RAIN, THE SNOW-- AND IT SNOWED IN MONTGOMERY-- THE SLEET, AND THE HEAT FOR 381 DAYS.

LEWIS

LEWIS

ROSA PARKS, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ME. IT GAVE ME A WAY OUT. IT INSPIRED ME TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN THE WAY. JOHN LEWIS LIT UP, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE'D BEEN WAITING TO HEAR. SOMEBODY TO MAKE A DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE PROBLEMS OF HIS LIFE.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND WHEN I LEFT AND TOOK THAT GREYHOUND BUS TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AS A STUDENT, MY MOTHER SAID, "BE PARTICULAR." I WOULD TELL HIM JUST LIKE I TELL HIM NOW, I WOULD TELL HIM TO BE PARTICULAR WHEREVER HE GO AND WHATEVER HE DO.

LEWIS

LEWIS

SHE WAS SAYING, "BE WATCHFUL. BE MINDFUL. BE CAREFUL. DON'T GET INTO ANY TROUBLE." BUT I GOT IN TROUBLE. GOOD TROUBLE. NECESSARY TROUBLE. TO GO TO NASHVILLE TO SCHOOL, IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD, IT WAS A NEW WORLD. TO BE IN A INTEGRATED SETTING, DESEGREGATED SETTING, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, REALLY, IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD.

REVEREND C.T. VIVIAN

LEWIS

WE WERE IN SEMINARY AND I FIRST KNEW JOHN THERE. JOHN CAME TO SEMINARY AND JOHN WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK WELL. AND YOU EXPECTED THAT FROM MINISTRY. YET, THERE WAS SOMETHING DEEPER THAN THAT ABOUT JOHN. IT WAS NOT IN THE FINISH, IT WAS NOT IN THE VOCABULARY, PER SAY, IT WAS IN, IN FACT, THE FORCE OF THE PERSONALITY THAT YOU WERE LISTENING TO.

LEWIS

LEWIS

SEGREGATION, YOU JUST COULDN'T GO INTO A LARGE DEPARTMENT STORE AND TAKE A SEAT AT A LUNCH COUNTER. YOU COULDN'T TRY ON CLOTHING. YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE CONDITIONS BUT YOU DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED. AND WE FELT IT WAS A AFFRONT TO OUR OWN DIGNITY, TO OUR OWN WORTH. EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT, I STARTED ATTENDING THESE NONVIOLENT WORKSHOPS, AND IT WAS THERE THAT I MET JIM LAWSON. WE SAW A WRONG, AND WITH OUR BODIES, WE WENT INTO THE SITUATION TO CORRECT IT. AND HE KEPT SAYING WHAT WE COULD DO AS STUDENTS, AS YOUNG PEOPLE. HE TOLD US ALL ABOUT WHAT GANDHI ATTEMPTED TO DO IN SOUTH AFRICA. WE WERE TRAINED IN NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION FOCUSED ON THE LUNCH COUNTERS. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR TRAINING WAS ABOUT. -NIGGER! -NIGGER! THE ROLE PLAYING WAS CONDITIONING US, PREPARING US, 'CAUSE WE WERE GONNA FACE OPPOSITION. POSSIBILITY OF US BEING BEATEN. WE HAD TO BE PREPARED. THE FIRST MORNING THAT WE WENT DOWNTOWN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SIT-INS, I WAS ASSIGNED TO GO TO WOOLWORTH'S, AND WE WOULD GO IN AND TAKE OUR SEAT. ORDERLY, PEACEFUL, READING A BOOK, WRITING A PAPER. ALL DAY. AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK THE NEXT DAY WAITING TO BE SERVED. THE WHITE PEOPLE IN NASHVILLE WERE STUNNED. I MEAN, THEY WERE MORE THAN STUNNED. THEIR WAY OF LIFE, THEY FELT, WAS BEING DISREGARDED. THERE WAS SOMETHING DEEP DOWN WITHIN ME, MOVING ME, THAT I COULD NO LONGER BE SATISFIED OR GO ALONG WITH AN EVIL SYSTEM-- THAT I HAD TO BE MALADJUSTED TO IT. AND IN SPITE OF ALL OF THIS, I HAD TO KEEP LOVING THE PEOPLE WHO DENIED ME SERVICE.

LAFAYETTE

LEWIS

WE KNEW THAT WE WERE STICKING OUR NECKS OUT, REALIZED THAT YOU COULD GET BLIND OR YOUR TEETH COULD GET KNOCKED OUT.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE HAD TO MAKE THE POINT THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT YOURSELF IN HARM'S WAY. AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU MAY STIR UP SOME VIOLENCE, BUT YOU WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE VIOLENCE. WE WERE ATTACKED. PEOPLE WERE BEATEN. LIGHTED CIGARETTES PUT OUT DOWN PEOPLE'S BACKS, POURED KETCHUP AND HOT SAUCE ON PEOPLE. THE POLICE OFFICIALS CAME IN AND ARRESTED ALL OF US. HOLDING MY HEAD HIGH, I FELT SO FREE. I FELT LIBERATED. I FELT LIKE I CROSSED OVER.

MAN

LEWIS

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE...

LEWIS

LEWIS

MY MOTHER FELT THAT IT WOULD BRING SHAME AND DISGRACE ON THE FAMILY NAME FOR SOMEONE TO BE ARRESTED. LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE...

LEWIS

LEWIS

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE LETTER SHE WROTE SAYING, "YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT MESS," AND THAT'S WHEN I WROTE HER BACK AND TOLD HER THAT I WAS DOING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

MAN

LEWIS

OVER MY HEAD OH, LORD I SEE FREEDOM IN THE AIR.

LEWIS

LEWIS

YES, MY MOTHER, MY FATHER TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN I ASKED THEM ABOUT THOSE SIGNS THAT SAID, "WHITE MEN, COLORED MEN." THEY SAID, "THAT'S THE WAY IT IS." YOU ARE THE LEADERS OF THE 21st CENTURY. YOU MUST LEAD. YOU MUST BE A HEADLIGHT... AND NOT A TAIL LIGHT. YOU MUST FIND A WAY TO GET IN THE WAY.

APPLAUSE

LEWIS

OH, I DO REMEMBER MY GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE. YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GRADUATING IN 1961. I HAD MY ROBE. HAD MY CAP. BUT I MISSED THE GRADUATION. I WAS IN JAIL IN MISSISSIPPI DURING A FREEDOM RIDE. FOR MANY YEARS, I HAD TRAVELED FROM TROY TO NASHVILLE AND I'D SEEN AND FELT THE STING OF SEGREGATION. IN THE WAITING ROOM. GOING TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. IN THE FALL OF 1960, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAD ISSUED A DECISION BANNING DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT IT WAS NOT BEING ENFORCED. NO SOUTHERN STATES WERE ABIDING BY THE SUPREME COURT RULING. THEY WERE ORDERED TO CEASE AND DESIST, BUT NO ONE WAS DOING THAT.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND SO WHEN THE IDEA OF THE FREEDOM RIDES CAME ALONG, THAT WAS MY MOMENT. THAT WAS MY MOMENT. WE HAD BEEN WARNED THAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS MISSION, AND WE HAD TO BE PREPARED TO GO TO JAIL, BE BEATEN, OR TO DIE.

THOMAS

LEWIS

THE STRATEGY WAS ALWAYS BLACKS AND WHITES WOULD SIT TOGETHER TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE BUS. THE INTENDED ROUTE WAS TO GO FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TO NEW ORLEANS, AND, OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T GET THAT FAR.

BILL HARBOUR

LEWIS

THE BUS AT ANNISTON WAS SET AFIRE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THE BUS THAT WENT INTO BIRMINGHAM, THE RIDERS WAS BEATEN, AND A LOT OF 'EM WAS IN BAD SHAPE. AND WE WAS TOLD THAT THE FREEDOM RIDE HAD STOPPED.

LEWIS

LEWIS

BUT BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE, I MADE A DECISION WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL SIT-IN-ERS THAT WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO PICK UP THE RIDE AND CONTINUE. EVERYBODY TOLD US THAT IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS. WE SHOULD NOT TAKE UP THE FREEDOM RIDE.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE FELT WE COULD NOT ALLOW THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE STOP A NONVIOLENT CAMPAIGN.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE LEFT A GREYHOUND BUS STATION IN BIRMINGHAM. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TRAVELING IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE ARE TRAVELING ACROSS... WE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY ROBERT KENNEDY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE OFFICIALS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT PROTECTION WOULD BE PROVIDED.

HARBOUR

LEWIS

I COULD SEE FOUR POLICEMAN MOTORCYCLES IN FRONT OF THE BUS. A HELICOPTER WAS FLYING ON TOP OF THE BUS. HAD STATE TROOPERS BEHIND THE BUS AND EVERY FOUR OR FIVE MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

LEWIS

LEWIS

BUT WHEN WE GOT ABOUT 15 OR 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF MONTGOMERY, ALL SIGN OF THE PATROL CARS DISAPPEARED.

HARBOUR

LEWIS

AND WE PULLED INTO THE BUS STATION. I REMEMBER JOHN SAYING, "BILL, IT'S A LITTLE TOO QUIET."

LEWIS

LEWIS

IT WAS SO EERIE. ALMOST LIKE TIME WAS STANDING STILL. WE STARTED OFF THE BUS, AND THE MOMENT WE GOT ON THE GROUND, A MOB CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. AND WENT STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIA. AND THEY START SWINGING ON THE REPORTERS AND KNOCKING PEOPLE DOWN AND TAKING THEIR CAMERAS AND SMASHING 'EM, AND... HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. ACTING JUST WILD. AND SO WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA BE NEXT. AND I SAID TO THIS GROUP THAT WE SHOULDN'T RUN-- WE SHOULD STAND STILL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE ALL JOINED HANDS AND WAITED FOR THE MOB TO COME. AND THEY DID. PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE. AXE HANDLES, STICKS, PITCHFORKS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. BEATING US TO DEATH. I WAS BEATEN. I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A WOODEN CRATE. I THINK I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. MY SEAT-MATE JIM ZWERG WAS SO SEVERELY BEATEN HIS TEETH WAS KNOCKED OUT. I MEAN, THEY WERE JUST VICIOUS. IT WAS PROBABLY 15 OR 20 MINUTES BEFORE ANY POLICEMEN SHOWED UP.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE WAS TRYING REALLY TO APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE BEATING US, APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T PROTECT US. NONVIOLENCE IS LOVE IN ACTION. IN SAVING THE OTHER PERSON, IN RESCUING OR REDEEMING THE OTHER PERSON, YOU'RE RESCUING, YOU'RE SAVING YOURSELF. IT WAS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO WHEN ELWIN WILSON AND HIS FRIENDS ATTACKED A BLACK MAN AT A BUS STATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THAT YOUNG BLACK MAN WENT ON TO BECOME A CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS. I'D ALREADY TRIED... AND DID CHANGE MY LIFE.

BRIAN WILLIAMS

LEWIS

HE SAYS HE WAS A RACIST FOR YEARS. HE TOOK PART IN MULTIPLE BEATINGS, HE JOINED THE KKK. HE SAYS IT WAS...

LEWIS

LEWIS

IT WAS VERY MOVING AND VERY TOUCHING FOR ME FOR HIM TO COME TO WASHINGTON AND SAY, "I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I DID," AND I SAID, "I'LL FORGIVE YOU," AND I DON'T HAVE ANY BITTERNESS OR HATRED. IT'S A GREAT FEELING. IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE DISTANCE WE'VE COME. THAT'S WHAT THE MOVEMENT WAS ALL ABOUT-- TO CREATE A DIFFERENT SOCIETY, A BETTER SOCIETY, TO BE RECONCILED TO EACH OTHER. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE A SUCCESSFUL CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT DID NOT HAVE THAT STUDENT WING. NOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE AGE OF 15 TO PROBABLY ABOUT 24 YEARS OF AGE. WE'RE YOUNG, IDEALISTIC. WE HAD A VISION OF A BETTER AMERICA.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE AFFIRMED A PHILOSOPHICAL, A RELIGIOUS IDEAL OF NONVIOLENCE.

LAFAYETTE

LEWIS

THROUGH NONVIOLENCE, COURAGE DISPLACES FEAR. LOVE TRANSFORMS HATE.

HOLMES NORTON

LEWIS

ACCEPTANCE DISSIPATES PREJUDICE. PEACE DOMINATES WAR.

LEWIS

LEWIS

FAITH RECONCILES DOUBT. HOPE ENDS DESPAIR. JOHN BECAME THE CHAIRMAN OF S.N.C.C. IN VERY LARGE PART OUT OF SHEER COURAGE. THERE WERE THOSE WHO WERE MUCH MORE ARTICULATE, BUT THE VOTE WAS TAKEN BASED ON JOHN'S CLEAR REPUTATION OF BEING COURAGEOUS AND ALSO TAKING ACTION. OF BEING COURAGEOUS AND ALSO TAKING ACTION. AND IT WAS A ACTION-ORIENTED GROUP.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE WERE THE GUERRILLAS OF THE MOVEMENT. AND WE DELIBERATELY WOULD PUT OURSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE BLACK PEOPLE TO STAND OUT. NEXT WEEK, I SHALL ASK THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ACT, TO MAKE A COMMITMENT IT HAS NOT FULLY MADE IN THIS CENTURY TO THE PROPOSITION THAT RACE HAS NO PLACE IN AMERICAN LIFE OR LAW. I CAME HERE, 23 YEARS OLD, THE CHAIR OF THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO PARTICIPATE IN A MARCH FOR FREEDOM, MARCH FOR JOBS, A MARCH FOR EQUALITY. WELL, I WAS VERY THRILLED AND MOVED BY BEING ASKED TO BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

HOROWITZ

LEWIS

I THINK ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE MARCH, JOHN CAME INTO THE MARCH OFFICE WITH HIS SPEECH IN HIS HAND AND SHOWED IT TO PEOPLE, AND WE ALL LOVED IT. IT WAS MILITANT. IT WAS UNCOMPROMISING.

LEWIS

LEWIS

I HAD A GREAT DEAL OF ADMIRATION FOR THE OLDER LEADERS OF THE MARCH, BUT, IN A SENSE, I FELT LIKE THEY WERE-- I WAS ON EQUAL FOOTING. I CAME FRESH FROM THE STRUGGLE. FRESH FROM THE FRONT LINE OF THE BATTLE. I WAS NOT IN NEW YORK IN A BIG OFFICE. WHEN WORD GOT BACK TO US THAT THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH-- NOT THE WHOLE SPEECH, BUT, FRANKLY, WITH A VERY SMALL PORTION OF HIS SPEECH, AND OUR FIRST RESPONSE WAS DEFENSIVENESS. AND THIS WAS A VERY RADICAL, POLITICAL SPEECH. THEY DIDN'T WANT THE ADULTS TO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. THE WORD AROUND WASHINGTON AND THE THING THAT MOST PEOPLE FEARED WOULD BE THAT THE MARCH WOULD CAUSE VIOLENCE. PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS MARCH WOULD LOOK, HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE CONGRESS. I THINK THERE WERE POWERFUL FORCES WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION PUTTING PRESSURE ON SOME OF THE MOVEMENT LEADERS. WE FELT THAT WHAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAD PROPOSED IN HIS BILL WAS A LITTLE TOO LATE.

MAN

LEWIS

WE SHALL OVERCOME...

LEWIS

LEWIS

IT WAS 250,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND WE WERE MAKING THESE CHANGES, TAKING OUT A WORD HERE, CHANGING A WORD THERE. AND I WAS STEAMING A LITTLE INSIDE. OUR MAJOR CONCERN, AS I RECALL IT, WAS THAT WE'D DO WHATEVER CHANGES HAD TO BE DONE AND THAT THEY'D MEET OUR STANDARDS SO THAT WE WOULD NOT FEEL THAT WE HAD SOLD OUT.

RANDOLPH

LEWIS

I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO THIS GREAT AUDIENCE...

LEWIS

LEWIS

MR. RANDOLPH, HE WAS THE DEAN OF BLACK LEADERSHIP. HE SAID, "JOHN, LET'S CHANGE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY. WE COME THIS FAR TOGETHER. LET'S STAY TOGETHER."

YOUNG

LEWIS

JOHN AGREED WITH A. PHILIP RANDOLPH JUST OUT OF RESPECT FOR WHO HE WAS.

HOLMES NORTON

LEWIS

IN SOME SENSE, WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE MARCH WAS TO DRAW PEOPLE TOGETHER.

SELLERS

LEWIS

SO WE HAD TO MAKE THAT COMPROMISE, AND WE DID IT, BUT THAT ALWAYS LEFT A QUESTION IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS ABOUT COMPROMISES.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT MOMENT WHEN A. PHILIP RANDOLPH SAID, "I NOW PRESENT TO YOU THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE..."...COORDINATING COMMITTEE, BROTHER JOHN LEWIS.

APPLAUSE

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND I TOOK DEEP BREATH, AND I SAID, "WE MARCH TODAY FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM." THE TIME WILL COME WHEN WE WILL NOT CONFINE OUR MARCHING TO WASHINGTON. WE WILL MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH. THROUGH THE STREETS OF JACKSON. THROUGH THE STREETS OF DANVILLE. THROUGH THE STREETS OF CAMBRIDGE. THROUGH THE STREETS OF BIRMINGHAM.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

LEWIS

WE DO NOT WANT OUR FREEDOM GRADUALLY, BUT WE WANT TO BE FREE NOW. FIVE DECADES AGO TODAY AMERICANS CAME TO THIS HONORED PLACE. THEY CAME BY THE THOUSANDS. WILLINGLY, THEY WENT TO JAIL TO PROTEST UNJUST LAWS. THAT WAS THE SPIRIT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE JOHN LEWIS BROUGHT TO THAT DAY.

SINGING INDISTINCTLY

LEWIS

WE ARE THE REVOLUTION...

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE ARE TIRED. WE ARE TIRED OF BEING BEAT BY POLICEMEN. WE ARE TIRED OF SEEING OUR PEOPLE LOCKED UP IN JAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND THEN YOU HOLLER, "BE PATIENT." HOW LONG CAN WE BE PATIENT? 50 YEARS LATER, WE CANNOT WAIT. WE CANNOT BE PATIENT. WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AS WE MARCH TODAY.

LEWIS

LEWIS

MEMBERS OF MY OWN ORGANIZATION, THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE, CAME HERE TO ORGANIZE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES. DO YOU HAVE ANY BUSINESS IN THE COURTHOUSE?

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND WE HAD THE RESISTANCE OF A SHERIFF WHO WOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO EVEN ENTER THE COURTHOUSE DOOR TO TAKE THE LITERACY TEST. THEY COULDN'T REGISTER TO VOTE. ON ONE OCCASION, A MAN WAS ASKED TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF BUBBLES ON A BAR OF SOAP. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, A MAN WAS ASKED TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF JELLYBEANS IN A JAR AND WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T READ OR WRITE WELL ENOUGH. TODAY MARKS THE BEGINNING...

LEWIS

LEWIS

DURING THIS SELMA CAMPAIGN, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CAME TO SELMA.

YOUNG

LEWIS

THE COMMUNITIES INVITED US, SO WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD COME TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. S.N.C.C. SAW THIS AS US COMING IN TO INVADE THEIR TERRITORY, BUT JOHN NEVER GOT UPSET ABOUT THAT. JOHN WAS WITH US.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AFTER A SERIES OF ARRESTS AND JAILINGS AND BEATING ON THE PART OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE SHERIFFS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE IN SELMA, A YOUNG BLACK MAN BY THE NAME OF JIMMIE LEE JACKSON, HE WAS SHOT IN THE STOMACH BY A STATE TROOPER, AND A FEW DAYS LATER, HE DIED. AND WE SAID THEN THAT WE HAD TO MARCH FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. THERE WILL BE NO MARCH BETWEEN SELMA, ALABAMA AND MONTGOMERY, AND I HAVE SO INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

LEWIS

LEWIS

THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN SELMA WANTED TO MARCH, BUT THE NATIONAL S.N.C.C. OFFICE WERE OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF PEOPLE WALKING FROM SELMA TO MONTGOMERY. I DISAGREED.

SELLERS

LEWIS

JOHN WAS JUST MORALLY COMMITTED. HE MADE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO SELMA.

LEWIS

LEWIS

THERE WAS A FEELING THAT DR. KING AND S.C.L.C. PEOPLE WOULD BE THERE FOR A WHILE, LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GET HURT, THEN THEY WOULD LEAVE AND GO ON SOMEPLE ELSE. S.N.C.C. HAD TAKEN A POSITION THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF THE SELMA DEMONSTRATIONS. THEY FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT IF I WANTED TO MARCH I COULD MARCH AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT NOT AS CHAIR OF THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE. HE DID NOT ARGUE WITH THEM. HE LET THEM TAKE THAT POSITION. HE WAS A PERSON OF CONVICTIONS-- PERSONAL CONVICTIONS. SO HE TOOK A STAND AND DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

WOMAN

LEWIS

THAT DAY, THAT SUNDAY WAS THE FIRST SUNDAY. MY HUSBAND AND MARTIN WERE GOING THAT MONDAY. AND THE CALL CAME TO EBENEZER TO SPEAK TO DR. KING ABOUT MARCHING, BECAUSE WHEN THEY GOT THERE, JOHN AND THOSE, THE PEOPLE WERE READY TO MARCH.

LEWIS

LEWIS

AND SO IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO WALK WITH HOSEA, AND THEY ASKED ME TO LEAD IT ON BEHALF OF S.N.C.C. THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO REPRESENT THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE. TO ME, IT WAS A VERY PRAYERFUL, ORDERLY, PEACEFUL, SILENT PROTEST. IT REMINDED ME OF GANDHI'S MARCH TO THE SEA. SO THEY MARCHED. AND, OH, MY GOD.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WHEN WE GOT TO THE APEX OF THE EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE CROSSING THE ALABAMA RIVER, LOOKING DOWN, YOU SAW A SEA OF BLUE. IT WAS ALABAMA STATE TROOPERS-- THE SHERIFF AND HIS POSSE ON HORSEBACK. IT WAS A VERY EERIE FEELING, THE MOMENT THAT WE STOOD THERE. YOU COULD SEE THE DEBRIS. YOU COULD SEE THE WIND JUST BLOWING SOMEONE'S COAT.

OFFICER

LEWIS

I'M SAYING THAT THIS IS AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. YOU'RE ORDERED TO DISPERSE. GO HOME OR GO TO YOUR CHURCH. THIS MARCH WILL NOT CONTINUE.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE STOOD THERE. I LOOKED AT HOSEA. HOSEA LOOKED AT ME. SAID, "LET'S KNEEL. AND PRAY." BEFORE WE COULD PASS THE WORD BACK TO THE GROUP TO KNEEL AND PRAY, THE MAJOR SAID, "TROOPERS, ADVANCE." I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY A STATE TROOPER WITH A NIGHTSTICK. MY LEGS WENT FROM UNDER ME. I THOUGHT I SAW DEATH. I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BEATEN ON THE BRIDGE. I DON'T LIKE PAIN. I DON'T LIKE TO SUFFER IN A HOSPITAL. BUT IF THAT'S THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OTHERS, I WAS WILLING TO PAY THAT PRICE. THAT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY. BY THAT TUESDAY, THERE WAS DEMONSTRATION IN 80 MAJOR CITIES IN AMERICA. NOW JOIN ARMS. YOU WERE DOWN THERE COMING THIS WAY? RIGHT. WE WERE WALKING RIGHT OVER THERE, IN TWO, ORDERLY-- -ON THE SIDEWALK. -ON THE SIDEWALK. NO ONE SAYING A WORD.

MAN

LEWIS

THE FORCES CAME THIS WAY? THEY CAME...

SENATOR HARRY REID

LEWIS

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WHERE HE GETS VERY, VERY SERIOUS, AND YOU CAN TELL HE'S, AT LEAST IN MY WORDS, SAYING, "I SURVIVED THAT."

LEWIS

LEWIS

EIGHT DAYS AFTER BLOODY SUNDAY WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON SPOKE TO THE NATION, SPOKE TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE CONGRESS, HE CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE IN SELMA, INTRODUCED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. BEFORE HE CONCLUDED THAT SPEECH, HE SAID, "AND WE SHALL OVERCOME." SITTING NEXT TO DR. KING WITH ANDY C.T. VIVIAN AND OTHERS, I LOOK AT DR. KING. TEARS STARTED FLOWING FROM HIS EYES. WE ALL CRIED A LITTLE. AND DOCTOR KING SAID THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WOULD BE PASSED.

SELLERS

LEWIS

JOHN'S COMMITMENT TO SELMA WAS DIRECTLY LINKED TO JOHN'S PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO SELMA AS OPPOSED TO A POLITICAL DECISION. NOW THE QUESTION IS COULD HE MAKE THAT PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND STILL BE THE SPOKESPERSON OF S.N.C.C.?

DISTANT SINGING

LEWIS

IN THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A GREAT MOVEMENT TOWARD BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS. BLACK NATIONALISM.

MALCOLM X

LEWIS

TODAY IT'S TIME TO STOP SINGING AND START SWINGING. WE GOT A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. YOU ALSO HAVE THE WATTS AND HARLEM REBELLIONS, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THE CONCERNS OF BLACKS WHO ARE CAUGHT IN THE GHETTOS.

MAN

LEWIS

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? WE HAVE BEEN TOO NONVIOLENT! TOO NONVIOLENT.

LEWIS

LEWIS

THERE WAS A MOVE IN S.N.C.C. AT THAT TIME TO MOVE ALL OF THE WHITE PEOPLE OUT. IT WAS A MOVEMENT TOWARD GIVING UP ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF NONVIOLENCE. THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE WHO WANTED ME TO TAKE ON DR. KING. I WAS NOT ANY WAY GONNA GET ON A FIGHT WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. I THINK THAT STOKELY WAS PROBABLY KINDA WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR HIS OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION.

LEWIS

LEWIS

PEOPLE FELT THAT I WAS NOT MILITANT ENOUGH, NOT RADICAL ENOUGH. IT WAS TIME FOR ME, IN A SENSE, TO LEAVE. BUT THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT, BECAUSE S.N.C.C. HAD BEEN MY FAMILY. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD BEEN MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIODS FOR ME IN THE MOVEMENT. IT WAS LIKE BREAKING UP. IT WAS LIKE BEING PUT OUT.

KING

LEWIS

OH, YES, I PRAYED A PRAYER. AND I PRAYED OUT LOUD THAT NIGHT. I SAID, "LORD, I'M DOWN HERE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT."

AUDIENCE CHEERING

LEWIS

JOHN LEWIS NEVER, EVER DOUBTED, QUESTIONED, OR DISRESPECTED ANYTHING THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID. MARTIN FELT THAT JOHN LEWIS WAS HIS TRUE, SPIRITUAL SON. HE REALLY LOVED HIM LIKE HIS OWN CHILD. THE REST OF US, MARTIN WAS PRETTY ALOOF. BUT WITH JOHN, HE JUST-- HE WAS REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH JOHN, BECAUSE JOHN WANTED TO LISTEN. JOHN WANTED TO HANG ON HIS EVERY WORD. HE WAS LIKE A BIG BROTHER. HE WAS MY FRIEND. HE WOULD ASK ME SOMETIMES JOKINGLY, "JOHN, DO YOU PREACH SOMETIME?" AND I SAID, "YES, DR. KING, WHEN I'M TAKING A SHOWER." AND HE WOULD JUST LAUGH. HE WOULD LAUGH. HE THOUGHT IT WAS SO FUNNY. I GOT INVOLVED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ROBERT KENNEDY IN '68.

ROBERT KENNEDY

LEWIS

WE CAN WORK TOGETHER... AND THAT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITHIN THE UNITES STATES...

LEWIS

LEWIS

WHEN I SAW WHAT ROLE THAT-- INDIVIDUAL POLITICIAN COULD PLAY IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER-- AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I THINK AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. KING AND ROBERT KENNEDY, I FELT LIKE MAYBE I COULD BE PART OF AN EFFORT TO PICK UP WHERE THEY HAD LEFT OFF.

LEWIS

LEWIS

ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE...

REPORTER

LEWIS

AS PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE, LEWIS WAS ARRESTED AND BEATEN DURING THE 1960s. TODAY, AS DIRECTOR OF THE ATLANTA-BASED VOTER EDUCATION PROJECT, LEWIS IS STILL TRYING TO REGISTER BLACKS TO VOTE. PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THEY'RE AFRAID TO TALK TO VOTER REGISTRATION WORKERS. THEY'RE AFRAID THAT THEY MAY LOSE THEIR JOBS. FRIENDS OF MINE STARTED SAYING TO ME, "YOU SHOULD RUN FOR SOMETHING. YOU SHOULD RUN FOR SOMETHING." AND THE TIME CAME.

REPORTER

LEWIS

JOHN LEWIS AND JULIAN BOND, TWO BONA FIDE HEROES OF THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. THE POWER BROKERS IN ATLANTA IN THE KINDA BACK ROOM, SMOKY ROOM, DECIDED JULIAN BOND SHOULD RUN FOR CONGRESS. AT STAKE WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST WHICH MAN WILL BE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS FROM GEORGIA'S FIFTH DISTRICT.

REPORTER

LEWIS

LEWIS AND BOND MET DURING THE DAYS OF THE LUNCH COUNTER SIT-INS IN NASHVILLE. WE HAD GREAT TIMES TOGETHER. WE LAUGHED TOGETHER. WE PLAYED TOGETHER. I'M NOT GONNA LET A SIX-MONTH POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DISRUPT A FRIENDSHIP I'VE HAD WITH JOHN LEWIS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS. JULIAN BOND IS VERY GOOD-LOOKING AND VERY WELL-SPOKEN. JOHN KEPT SAYING, "DO YOU WANT A SHOW BOAT OR A TUG BOAT?"

REPORTER

LEWIS

THE RUNOFF HAS BEEN NASTY. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS ISSUE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO UNTIL LEWIS MADE ONE. HE TOOK A DRUG TEST AND CHALLENGED BOND TO DO THE SAME. MY TEST CAME OUT CLEAN. BOND CALLED THE DRUG TEST A CHEAP POLITICAL TRICK. SO QUICKLY I RESPONDED AND SAID, "MR. BOND, MY FRIEND, WE WERE ASKED TO TAKE A DRUG TEST." I TOOK MY TEST, AND HERE'S THE RESULTS. SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS VICIOUS. JULIAN RELUCTANTLY TOOK THE TEST, AND IT DIDN'T COME OUT GOOD NEWS FOR HIM. THAT WAS REALLY DEMISE OF JULIAN AND A REAL STRAIN IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THAT PROBABLY WAS A LOW BLOW. PROBABLY IF I HAD TO DO THAT OVER AGAIN, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T DO IT. YOU DID IT WELL!

REPORTER

LEWIS

IT WAS A SURPRISING, COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY FOR JOHN LEWIS IN HIS BITTER, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY RUNOFF AND LONGTIME FRIEND AND CIVIL RIGHTS ALLY JULIAN BOND. THERE WAS THAT FEAR THAT HE WAS NAIVE, THE FEELING THAT IF YOU BELIEVE STRONGLY IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, YOU'RE NAIVE. THAT WAS MY PERSONAL FEAR, THAT JOHN'S INTEGRITY WOULD BE A NEGATIVE FOR HIM IN CONGRESS. YEAH. UH, THEY MAY NOT HAVE IT.

REPRESENTATIVE ANDRE CARSON

LEWIS

JOHN AND I BOTH ARE HOUSED IN THE CANNON BUILDING, AND I WAS RUNNING LATE FOR VOTES, AND ONCE I GOT ON THE ELEVATOR, THE ELEVATOR HAD TO STOP AT, I THINK, THE THIRD FLOOR. I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WHO COULD THIS BE?" I'M GONNA BE LATE FOR VOTES, AND IT'S JOHN. I SAID, "HEY, JOHN." HE WAS LIKE, "CAN I CATCH A RIDE?" I SAID, "LET'S DO IT." AND SO WE GOT OFF ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AND WE WALKED OUTSIDE...

REPRESENTATIVE STENY HOYER

LEWIS

WE WERE CONSIDERING THE HEALTHCARE BILL AND IT WAS TO COME UP FOR A VOTE, AND THE DAY BEFORE WE HAD A CAUCUS ON THAT BILL, UH, JOHN LEWIS AND OTHERS HAD BEEN WALKING.

ALL CHANTING "KILL THE BILL"

LEWIS

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD COME TO WASHINGTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING DISRUPTIVE. JOHN LEWIS, ANDRE CARSON, EMANUEL CLEAVER AND OTHERS, BARNEY FRANK, ON THEIR WAY OVER THROUGH CROWDS THAT WERE JEERING AND HURLING ETHNIC VULGAR SLURS.

LEWIS

LEWIS

THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTE THAT WE CAST AS MEMBERS OF THIS BODY. WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TODAY TO MAKE HEALTHCARE A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE. EMANUEL CLEAVER WAS TOGETHER WITH JOHN LEWIS. THEY WERE WALKING OVER TO THE CAPITOL WHEN SOMEBODY SPIT ON CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER AND YELLED THE "N" WORD AS CONGRESSMAN LEWIS. I WATCHED JOHN LEWIS SO THAT I COULD CHOREOGRAPH MY ACTIONS IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH HIM, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT JOHN LEWIS HANDLED IT THE WAY CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WERE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE IT.

LARSON

LEWIS

BY THE TIME OF SUNDAY'S CAUCUS, PEOPLE WERE VERY EDGY ABOUT THIS.

REPORTER

LEWIS

BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES, THIS IS WHITE-KNUCKLE TIME. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE VOTES YET. I ASKED JOHN IF HE WOULD SPEAK AT OUR CAUCUS, AND HE DID, AND HE SAID, "WHAT TRANSPIRED YESTERDAY IS NOT IMPORTANT. THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE."

CROWD CHANTING

LEWIS

KILL THE BILL! KILL THE BILL!

REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI

LEWIS

WHEN WE WERE IN THE ROOM AND WE WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE, I WANTED TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THE WHOLE CAUCUS WAS WALKING TOGETHER. AND THE SECURITY FOR THE LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY FOR NANCY PELOSI, SAID, "YOU CANNOT DO THAT. YOU CANNOT WALK--" IT WAS AN ANGRY CROWD. "YOU CANNOT." AND JOHN, WHO HAD BEEN REALLY INSULTED BY THESE PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF THIS DEBATE, WE JUST LOCKED ARMS AND WALKED ACROSS THE STREET.

REPORTER

LEWIS

A REMARKABLE SCENE. A REMARKABLE STATEMENT. THE SPEAKER AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER WALKING HAND IN HAND TO GO VOTE TODAY WITH REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS.

REPORTER

LEWIS

THE CULMINATION OF THE EPIC, 14-MONTH FIGHT OVER HEALTHCARE CAME LATE IN THE NIGHT.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE WALKED INTO THE CAPITOL WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY, AND WE PASSED THAT BILL. IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

CROWD SHOUTING

SPEAKS SPANISH

CROWD CHANTING

LEWIS

SI SE PUEDE! SI SE PUEDE! IF ANY ONE OF US IS ILLEGAL, THEN WE ALL ARE ILLEGAL!

CHEERING

LEWIS

SO KEEP IT UP. IF ANY OF YOU GET ARRESTED AND GO TO JAIL, I'M PREPARED TO GET ARRESTED AND GO TO JAIL WITH YOU.

CROWD CHEERS

LEWIS

THE JAILS OF AMERICA ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD ALL OF US! I MEAN, WHEN JOHN LEWIS SAID, "THIS IS MY FIGHT, AND I FEEL THE SAME FIGHT FROM THE '60S," WHO ELSE CAN PUT THAT KIND OF IMPRIMATUR ON A MOVEMENT AND SAY IT'S A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT? IF ONE OF THE LEADERS, ICONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN FROM THE SOUTH SAYS IT IS, THEN GUESS WHAT? IT IS.

REPORTER

LEWIS

D.C. POLICE ARRESTED DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AT AN IMMIGRATION RALLY ON THE NATIONAL MALL TUESDAY. THIS ARREST WAS THE 45TH FROM THE LONGTIME REPRESENTATIVE FROM GEORGIA. DO I NEED TO SEND ANY NOTICE OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

ARYC MOSHER

LEWIS

HAVING HIM SPEAK ON BEHALF OF GAY AND LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES RAISES OUR VOICE TO A DEGREE WHICH WE COULD NOT REACH WITHOUT HIM. ARYC GOT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS TO SIGN THIS FOR ME AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT, AND I WAS JUST REALLY TAKEN ABACK BY IT.

JOAN GARNER

LEWIS

BELIEVE ME, HE STEPPED OUT WHEN OTHERS WOULDN'T, AND SO HE'S BEEN CONSISTENT ON EVER ISSUE THAT'S COME BEFORE THE CONGRESS. HE WAS THERE WHEN HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION PASSED. ALSO BEEN THERE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH H.I.V. AND AIDS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER WE ARE STRAIGHT OR GAY.

ALL CHEER

LEWIS

I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED, I WILL NOT BE PLEASED... UNTIL WE END DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION...

CROWD CHEERS

KENNETH SAMUEL

LEWIS

CONGRESSMAN LEWIS MAKES THE CONNECTION THAT CIVIL RIGHTS IS ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE. THAT WAS DR. KING'S PLEA, THAT A THREAT TO JUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. -I SHOULD GO THE WAY LIKE I GO TO YOUR OFFICE, RIGHT? -

WOMAN

LEWIS

YES. OKAY. -UH, ABOUT HIS POLICY... -MM-HMM. THE VOTE IS PRECIOUS. IT IS ALMOST SACRED. IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL NONVIOLENT TOOL THAT WE HAVE IN A DEMOCRACY.

HORN HONKING

LEWIS

I'M JOHN LEWIS. I'M A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. I WORK IN WASHINGTON WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA. YOU WANNA GIVE ME SOME OF YOUR HAIR? -

LAUGHTER

LEWIS

-HUH? GOOD TO SEE YOU. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

AMINA KHAN

LEWIS

IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO ME THAT HE STARTED WHEN HE WAS MY AGE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE 'CAUSE I'M ONLY 16.

COLLINS

LEWIS

ELECTION DAY IS A GREAT DAY. FOR HIM, JUST HISTORICALLY, THE POWER TO VOTE AND TO CAST THAT VOTE IS JUST SO SACRED. GOOD MORNING. HOW YOU DOING? JUST A WONDERFUL FEELING TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND CAST A VOTE WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNEW NEVER HAD A CHANCE, NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

REID

LEWIS

REALLY IMPORTANT. HE CONTINUES TO TELL PEOPLE OF AMERICA THINGS HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE WAY THEY ARE NOW, AND UNLESS WE KEEP OUR GUARD UP, THINGS COULD ALWAYS BE BAD AGAIN.

REPORTER

LEWIS

...ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT HAS JUST MADE A MAJOR DECISION...

REPORTER #2

LEWIS

...COURT STRUCK DOWN A KEY SECTION OF THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

WILLIAMS #3

LEWIS

ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS EVER PASSED...

REPORTER

LEWIS

TOOK THE TEETH OUT OF A LAW ENACTED NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

REPORTER #4

LEWIS

...BLUNTLY DECLARED THAT TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND THE LAW MUST TOO. I MUST TELL YOU I WAS DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT THE COURT DID TODAY IS STAB THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 IN ITS VERY HEART.

REPORTER

LEWIS

TEXAS RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY, SAYING IT WOULD START ENFORCING ONE OF THE NATION'S...

REPORTER #2

LEWIS

...NEEDS TO HAVE A PHOTO I.D., AND IF POTENTIAL VOTERS...

REPORTER #3

LEWIS

...MOVED TO TOUGHEN ITS LAWS, INCLUDING A REDUCTION IN EARLY VOTING HOURS.

LEWIS

LEWIS

ONLY HOURS AFTER THE DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE SUPREME COURT, STATES BEGAN TO PUT INTO FORCE EFFORT TO SUPPRESS PEOPLE'S VOTING RIGHTS. IT IS A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY OF CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE LIFE AND SOUL OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND WE MUST DO IT, AND WE MUST DO IT NOW. WE'RE CALLING ON THE LEADERSHIP TO BRING GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. GIVE US A VOTE. LET US VOTE. WE CAME HERE TO DO OUR JOB! WE CAME HERE TO WORK.

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE HAVE TO OCCUPY THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE UNTIL THERE'S ACTION.

REPORTER

LEWIS

SCORES OF DEMOCRATS FLOODED THE HOUSE FLOOR CHANTING "NO BREAK, NO BILL."

LEWIS

LEWIS

WE LOST TOO MANY OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR BABIES. TOO MANY OF OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

CHANTING

LEWIS

WE'RE NOT GIVING UP THE FIGHT. THE FIGHT IS AN ONGOING FIGHT.

LEWIS

LEWIS

I CANNOT EXPLAIN IT. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SAY WHY AND HOW I GOT INVOLVED IN THE CAUSE AND THE MOVEMENT. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE OR MAYBE IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR MAYBE IN THE SPIRIT OF HISTORY, AND YOU HAVE TO SORT OF ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE USED. I'M GONNA BE ON THE ROAD-- I'LL BE ON THE ROAD RIGHT BEHIND YOU. WE MUST NEVER, EVER BECOME BITTER OR HOSTILE. YOU SHOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONAL. THIS IS POLITICS. THIS IS A BUSINESS. THIS IS A JOB THAT SOME OF US ASKED FOR. SOMETIMES WE GET BRUISED. SOMETIMES WE GET KNOCKED DOWN. BUT WE HAVE THE WILL, THE COURAGE, THE ABILITY, AND THE CAPACITY TO GET UP. TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN THE WAY. TO GET PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. THAT WILL ONLY COME BY PEOPLE BUILDING AND WORKING TOGETHER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A LASTING PEACE-- A COMMUNITY AT PEACE WITH ITSELF.

MUSIC PLAYING

ANNOUNCER

LEWIS

"JOHN GET IN THE WAY" IS AVAILABLE ON DVD. TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS. THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES.