Civil Rights Activist and Congressman John Lewis Dies, 80

Legendary activist who marched on Selma with Dr. King and was the victim of heinous police brutality — later spent the last three decades in Congress making history has died after a long battle with cancer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirms.

As a nation still mourns the racially-charged murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard Brooks among many others, the passing of John Lewis is especially impactful.

A figure of both movements — then (the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s) and now (a symbol of wisdom and steadfastness to lean on in today’s Black Lives Matter Movement), Lewis was one of the last great Black leaders who was not only a witness, but a participant in the things we’ve read about.

He was the last living speaker at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Lewis was arrested more than 40 times between 1960–1966.

When the activist announced a few months ago, that he was battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he vowed to fight it with the same zeal as he fought racial inequality his entire life.