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.
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)
APTOPIX John Lewis Remembered Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, say farewell at the conclusion of a 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. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool) (J. Scott Applewhite)
John Lewis Remembered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks during a 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. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool) (J. Scott Applewhite)
APTOPIX John Lewis Remembered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., talk prior to a memorial service to honor the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., in the Capitol Rotunda, Monday, July 27, 2020, in Washington. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) (Shawn Thew)
APTOPIX John Lewis Remembered A security guard peers into peers into the Capitol Rotunda as a memorial service for Rep. John Lewis, D- Ga., is held on Monday, July 27, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via AP, Pool) (Matt McClain)
John Lewis Remembered Members of the U.S. Capitol Police honor guard stand near the flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., on Monday, July 27, 2020, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Matt McClain/Pool via AP) (Matt McClain)
John Lewis Remembered The flag-draped casket of civil rights pioneer Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who died July 17, is carried by a U.S. military honor guard to the center of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to lie in state in Washington, Monday, July 27, 2020. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP) (Jonathan Ernst)
John Lewis Remembered Members of the U.S. Capitol Police honor guard stand near the flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., on Monday, July 27, 2020, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Matt McClain/Pool via AP) (Matt McClain)
John Lewis Remembered Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., pay their respects at the flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., on Monday, July 27, 2020 in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Matt McClain/Pool via AP) (Matt McClain)
John Lewis Remembered House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md., participate in a wreath laying during a memorial service for the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., as he lies in state at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, July 27, 2020. (Shawn Thew/Pool via AP) (Shawn Thew)
APTOPIX John Lewis Remembered The hearse with the flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., drives on 16th Street, renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, Monday, July 27, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) (Alex Brandon)
APTOPIX John Lewis Remembered A hearse with the flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., pauses in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Monday, July 27, 2020, in Washington, on way to the Capitol. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (Jose Luis Magana)
Remembering Rep. John Lewis The flag-draped casket of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., is carried by a joint services military honor guard to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, Monday, July 27, 2020, in Washington. (Doug Mills/Pool via AP) (Doug Mills/AP)
Minus Trump, Congress pays tribute to late Rep. John Lewis
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.
