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Mourners stop by U.S. Capitol to pay respects to civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis

By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV
By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American public will have a chance to say goodbye to civil rights hero Congressman John Lewis in the nation’s capitol.

Lewis’ casket arrived in Washington, D.C. and a procession led his remains to the U.S. Capitol, where he will lie in state Monday and Tuesday.

Continuing coverage of how Lewis is being honored, on Channel 2 Action News throughout the day

The congressman’s remains made several stops before it arrived to the U.S. Capitol, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, site of March on Washington and Black Lives Matter plaza.

The plaza was one of Lewis’ last public appearances before his death.

REMEMBERING JOHN LEWIS

Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston followed the procession and a special ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Monday.

The “Boy from Troy” rose to become a giant figure in American history and is only the second African-American congressman to lie in state at the nation’s capitol.

Lewis not only represented Atlanta for more than 30 years but he also became known as the conscious of the Congress.

“When John made his speech 57 years ago , he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington program. How fitting that in the final days of his life he summoned the strength to acknowledge the young people peacefully protesting in the same spirit of that march taking up the unfinished work of racial justice. Helping complete the journey begun more than 55 years ago,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said.

“Even though the world around him gave him cause for bitterness, he stubbornly treated everyone with respect and love. All so we could build a community at peace with itself,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

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John Lewis Remembered Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., right, attend a memorial service for the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a key figure in the civil rights movement and a 17-term congressman from Georgia, as he lies in state at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, July 27, 2020. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) (Shawn Thew)

Robin Campbell Bennett was one of the first to arrive with her daughter. Bennett said it was Lewis’ continued work for justice and equality that things are better today for so many people.

“It was a life made by God. And he just embraced what he was made to do,” Bennett said.

Georgians can pay their respects to the congressman on Wednesday with a memorial service at the State Capitol. Lewis’ body will lie in state Wednesday into Thursday morning.

A private funeral is set for Thursday at Ebeneezer Baptist Church. Channel 2 Action News will have live coverage and stream all services here in Georgia.

Wednesday, July 29 - Atlanta

ATLANTA’S SERVANT LEADER

Special Ceremony

Rotunda, Georgia State Capitol

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Rep. John Lewis Lies in State

Rotunda, Georgia State Capitol

3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

8 p.m. – 8 a.m.

Open to the public. Attendees will be required to wear face and mouth coverings.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Omega Service

Rotunda, Georgia State Capitol

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Attendees will be required to wear face and mouth coverings.

THURSDAY, July 30

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

A Celebration of Life

Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary

11 a.m.

Given COVID-19 precautions, this event is not open to the public. Attendees will be required to wear face and mouth coverings.

Interment

South-View Cemetery

People can post video, photos, songs, or any kind of virtual tribute to Rep. Lewis using #BelovedCommunity or #HumanDignity or leave a written tribute at www.theJohnLewisLegacy.com.

RAW VIDEO: John Lewis' casket makes final journey across Selma bridge ABC News drone video flies over the scene on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.



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