John fed them and tended to their every need. Ones, for spiritual john baptized them, married them, and he preached to them. When his parents claimed one for supper, john refused to eat one of his flock. Going hungry was his first act of nonviolent protest. He also noted that in later years that his first congregation of chickens listen to him more closely than some of his colleagues in congress. Thought the chickens were just a little bit more productive. At least they produced eggs, he said. Nashville, from the freedom rides to the march on washington, from freedom summer to selma, john lewis always looked outward, not inward. He always thought of others. In preachingieved the gospel in word and in deed. Insisting that hate and fear had to be answered with love and hope. John lewis believed in the lord. He believed in humanity and he believed in america. He has been called an american saint. A believer willing to give up everything. To bear witness to the truth that drove him all could build a we world of justice, peace, harmony, dignity, and love. The first crucial step on that journey was the recognition that all people are born in the image of god and carry a spark of the divine within them. We are now privileged to see that spark in john im close. Theorked with him to bring museum of africanamerican history and culture to the washington mall. He was instrumental in the imminent till unsolved civil rights crimes act, which i signed to seek resolution in cases where justice had been too long denied. We will never forget joining him at selma, alabama for the 50th anniversary of his march across the Edmund Pettus bridge, where we got to watch president barack obama thank john is one of his heroes as one of his heroes. [applause] there is a story in the old scriptures that meant a lot to john. In the hebrew bible, god is looking for a prophet. Who shall i send . Isaiah answers coming here in my. Send me. Took up the work of the lord through all his days. His lesson for us is that we must keep ourselves open to the open to hearing the call of love, of service, and to sacrifice for others. John and i had ever disagreements, of course, but in the America John Lewis 54 and johnmerica i believe in lewis fought for and the america i believe in differences of opinion are inevitable elements of democracy in action. [applause] we the people, including congressmen and president s, can have differing views on how to perfect our union while sharing the conviction that our nation, however flawed, is at heart a good and noble one. We believe we live in a better and nobler country today because of john lewis and his abiding faith in the power of god, in the power of democracy, and in the power of love to lift us all to a higher ground. The story that began in troy is not ending here today, nor is the work. John lewis lives forever in his Fathers House and he will live forever in the hearts of whon who have justly love mercy and walk calmly with their god. May the flights of angels see john lewis to his arrest and may god bless to his rest and may god bless the country that he loved. [applause] [applause] thank you very much. I think john miles and the lewis incomparableohns staff for a chance to say a few words about a man i loved for a long time. Am grateful by bothce sanctified, the faith and the works of those who have worshiped here. I think my friend reverend , who stood by my side and gave a fascinating sermon, and one of the most challenging prayers of my life. I think president and misses bush, president obama, speaker pelosi, representative hoyer, and representative clyburn, who for with thek, ending aa hand family fight within our party, proving that peace is needed by everyone. Madam mayor, thank you. You have faced more than a fair share of challenges in these you havemonths and faced them with candor and dignity and honor and i think you for your leadership. You for your leadership. [applause] for a fellow who got his start speaking at chickens, pretty finally organized sendoff this week. It is something to behold. [applause] that allt is important of us who loved him remember that he was, after all, a human like all other strengths thatth he made the most of when many do thatborn with weaknesses he worked hard to beat down when many cannot, but still a person. It made him more interesting and it made him, in my mind, even greater. Ago, we celebrated the 45th university of the selma march and we walked together corettath caretta and many others from the movement who are no longer with us. Young grateful for and and reverend for andy young and reverend jackson and others who survived. Day, i got him to replay me when story he told we first met in the 1970s. Know, i was just an aspiring whatever, a southern politician, had not been elected governor and he was already a legend. I said, what is the closest you came to getting killed doing this . He said it, once we were at a demonstration and i got knocked down on the ground and people were getting beat up pretty bad and i looked up and there was a man holding a long, heavy piece of pipe, and he lifted it and was clearly going to bring it down to my skull. Last second, i turned my neck away and the crowd pushed him a little bit, and a couple seconds later i could not believe i was still alive. I think it is important to remember that. A quickecause he was thinker. Because he was here on a mission that was bigger than personal ambition. Things like that sometimes just happen, but usually they do not. Things happened the john lewis long before we met and became friends that made him who he was. First, the famous story of john with his cousins and siblings, holding his aunts hand, more than a dozen of them running around a little old wooden house, the wind threatening to blow the house off its moorings, going to the place where the house was rising at all those people trying to hold it down. I think you learned something about the power of working something he learned about the power of working together, something more powerful than any instruction. Second, nearly 20 years later, when he was 23, the youngest speaker and the last speaker at the march on washington. He gave a great speech urging people to take to the streets across the south to see the chance to seize the chance to finally end racism. He listened to people that he had the same goals. He said, we have to be careful how we say this because we are trying to get converts, not more adversaries. Just three years later, he lost the leadership to Stokely Carmichael because he said, you i did a pretty good job for a guy that young and come from troy alabama. Troy, alabama. It must have been painful to lose, but he showed as a young man that there are some things he cannot do to hang onto a position, because if you do them you will not be who you are anymore. And i say there were two or three years there where the movement went a little bit too far towards stokely, but in the end john lewis prevailed. Because he haday the kind of character he showed when he lost an election. [applause] then there was bloody sunday. He figured he might get arrested. Important. Really for all the rhapsodic things we all believe about john lewis, he had a really good mind and was always trying to figure out, how can i make the most of every single moment . He is getting ready to march from selma to montgomery. He wants to get across the bridge. What do we remember . He cut quite a strange figure. He had a trenchcoat and a backpack. Now come young people probably think that is no big deal, but there were not that many backpacks back then, and you never buddies and you never saw anybody in the trenchcoat with a backpack. Apple, an orange, a toothbrush, toothpaste and the backpack to take care of his body because he figured he would get arrested. And two books, one by Richard Hofstadter about american political traditions to feed his mind, and one, the autobiography of Thomas Merrill merton, theson Roman Catholic trappist monk, the son of itinerant artists, making an astonishing personal. Ransformation what does a young guy who was about to get his brains beat out and planning on going to prison taken that . I think he figured that if tom is merton could find a way to keep his faith and believe in the future, he could too. [applause] so we honor our friend. For his faith and for living his faith. The scripture says the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Rebukewis was a walking well, we who thought, isnt it timet, to bag it . He kept moving. Imagined andand lived and worked and moved for his beloved community. He took a savage beating on more than one day. On he lost that backpack bloody sunday. Nobody really knows what happened to it. Bebe someday someone will stricken with conscience and give some of it back, but what it represented never disappeared from john lewiss spirit. We honor that memory today because as a child he learned to walk with the wind, to march with others to save a tiny house. Because, as a young man, he challenged others to join him with love and dignity to hold americas house down and open the doors of america tell its people. We honor him because in selma, on the third attempt, john and his comrades showed that sometimes you have to walk into the wind along with with it. As he crossed the bridge and marched into montgomery. But no matter what, john always kept walking to reach the beloved community. Into a lot of good trouble along the way, but lets not forget he also developed an absolutely uncanny ability to heal troubled waters. When he could have been angry hisermined to adversaries, he tried to get converts instead. He thought the open hand was better than the clenched fist. Faith andy the promise of st. Paul. Heart. R lost he fought the good fight, kept the faith, but we got our last letter today in the pages of the keep moving. It is so fitting on the day of his service, he leaves us our marching orders. Keep moving. 20 years ago, when i came here after the selma march to a big dinner honoring john and lillian and it was big afro, really pretty. Your daddy was given you grief letsit and i said, john, not get old too soon. Iti had hair like that, would be down to my shoulders. I was almost out of my time. People asked me, if you could do one more thing, what would it be . That kind of stuff. Night. Eone asked me that i had many friends in atlanta. I said, if i could do just one thing. Tonight andto me said, your time is up, and i am not a genie, i am not giving you three wishes, one thing. What would it be . Id i would in fact american withvery whatever it was that john lewis got as a fouryearold kid and took through a lifetime, to keep moving and keep moving in the right direction and keep bringing other people to move, and to do a without hatred in a song, to beh , as to sing and dance brother frederick said in troy. Ballot box to the even if it is a mailbox. John lewis was many things, but inwas a man, a friend sunshine and storm, who would walk the stony road he would ask you to walk, who would embrace the rod he would ask you to be whipped by, always keeping his eyes on the prize, thinking none of us would be free until all of us are equal. I loved him. I always will. I am so grateful that he stayed true to form. He has gone up yonder and left us with marching orders. I suggest, since he is close enough to god to keep his eye on the sparrow and us, we salute, suit up, and march on. [applause] good day. It is an honor to be here with each and every one of you. Thank you for enabling us all to be here in the Ebenezer Baptist church to honor and celebrate the life of john lewis with three president s of the United States. Isnt that exciting . [applause] president clinton, president bush, and soon president obama here with us. As ahalf of my colleagues speaker of the house, i am pleased to bring greetings to each and everyone of you. I am sad to bring condolences to the family, to john, miles, the entire lewis family, thank you for sharing john lewis with us. Bring so manyo members, 50. We would have more, except the coronavirus. I hope they will all stand, members of the house of representatives. [applause] harris and booker are with us as well. Booker. Harris and among them, mr. Hoyer, steny hoyer, mr. Clyburn, jim clyburn, with john lewis for over 30 years. [applause] have senior, we members and members of our freshman class. John convinced each one of us that we were his best friend in congress. We come with a flag flown over the night john passed. When this flag flew there, it said goodbye. Ouraved goodbye to john, friend, our mentor, our colleague. All beautiful man that we had the privilege of serving with in the congress of the United States. Again, we all bring our condolences to the family and to Michael Collins and johns staff who meant so much to him. Thank you to your service for your service to john lewis. [applause] there are many things we are grateful to the family and the staff for and we condemn and we commended them for, but lets acknowledge the stamina they had to keep up with john as he passed from troy to selma to montgomery to washington and now to atlanta to be at rest. When john lewis served with us, he wanted us to see the Civil Rights Movement and the rest through his eyes. He told us so many stories. He taught us so much. And he took us to selma. For two decades, mr. President , he took us to selma. You referenced 25 years, including the 50th anniversary, where president bush was as well as president obama. He wanted us to see how important was, how important it was, to understand the spirit of nonviolence. I hesitate to speak about in the presence of the master himself, reverend lawson. We were together recently in selma when he and john spoke in church and he taught the world about nonviolence. I just want to say this. In sanskrit means two nonviolence and insistence on the truth. All is what john lewis was about. Nonviolently insisting on the truth. He insisted on the truth at nashville, selma, washington, d. C. , the Lincoln Memorial, wherever he went. And he insisted on the truth and the congress of the United States. Every time he stood up to speak, we knew that he was going to take us to a higher place about what our responsibilities for and our opportunities were. No matter how, shall we say, be, hed someone might would insist on the truth. In mye said, he said life, i have done all i can to demonstrate that the way of peace, love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. He says inour turn, this article the president referenced, to let freedom ring. He always talked about the truth marching on. He always worked for he more Perfect Union. Over the fourth of july weekend, i had the privilege of visiting with john, and i brought him the flag pin then i wear, one just like it. That eyewear, one just like it. It is engravede with something that says, one country, one destiny. Now wasnt that what john lewis was all about . One country, one destiny. I mention it because this was into, the embroidered lining of Abraham Lincolns coat that he had on the night he left us. I think he had the code on all the time, but also that night the coach on all the time, but also that night. John lewis and Abraham Lincoln had so much in common. John, we got to know him first and foremost in front of the Lincoln Memorial when he made that beautiful speech. , lying in state under the rotunda, under the dome of the a platform that was made in 1865 to hold the casket of Abraham Lincoln. [applause] Abraham Lincoln, john lewis. So they had lots of connections. And by the way, just incidentally, they were both wonderful and spiritual and saintly, but they were both very good politicians. Think of john lewis that way. You who know him know that. He was always about a more Perfect Union, and he was always about young people. That is why, mr. President , that article you referenced in the New York Times today, his message that would be delivered at this time, as he left us, was about young people. Together youem, can redeem the world. Together, always, Perfect Union, together. He says, answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe in. Wasnt that just like john . We were very proud to have his voice in the rotunda speaking about all that he cared about and believed in in such a beautiful way, starting in troy. I started my remarks by talking about the flag that waves over the capital to say goodbye to john as he began his passage, but what i want you to know, in addition to how revered he is in the congress, so revered that he was a bit mischievous. Say make some good trouble, he always had a sort of twinkle in his eye about it all. My colleagues can tell you that when he cooked up having the sit in to get that Republican Leadership to put that gun violence prevention bill on the floor, when he did that and all ,he members followed him because it was disruptive, it was clear to the police that if they were to arrest john lewis for doing that, they would have to arrest the entire House Democratic caucus. [applause] when he spoke, people listened. When he led, people followed. We loved him very much. Family thatial mourned him greatly the sadness when william was sick, the joy he had in john miles. Person,oodbye to this our leader, our friend, this humorist he loved to iance, he loved to make us he loved to dance, he loved to make us laugh. Asked, were you ever asked to sing in the Civil Rights Movement . He said it so low, one time, because no one could hear me. Solo one time, because then nobody could hear me. Last night he was at the capitol. Thousands of people were showing up to pay their respects. A little after 8 00, there was a double rainbow. A double rainbow. But it had not rained. It was a double rainbow over the casket. Us, we waved goodbye when he started to leave us. Us, i am home in heaven. Heaven. E in we always knew he worked on the side of the angels and now he is with them, and may he rest in peace. Thank you. [applause] [applause] pastor, sisters and brothers, members of the lewis family that so wonderfully nurtured john in love, hope, courage, and faith, and sistersof it , milosa, as theshcatholic poet, sets tone, at least in part for me, as john lewis has journeyed from the attorney d e turn eddie this to theof nobodyy d eternity knows much about when he wrote this poem called meaning. When i die, i will see the lining of the world. Beyond bird,e, mountain, sunset. The true meaning, ready to be up,ded, what never added will now add up. What was incomprehensible, will become comprehended. Is no lining to the thresh on if a thrush on a branch is not a thrush onjusta a , ifanch, if night and day there is nothing but the earth, even if that is so, there will , weekend by the wakened byerish the lips that perish, that runs through interstellar places, that calls out, and protests and screams. I submit that john and the other eternity will be heard by us again and again running to proclaiming, still that we the people of the usa can one day live up to the full truths,of we hold these the full meaning of we the people of the usa, in order to. Erfect a more Perfect Union practiced not the politics that we call bipartisan. The lewis practiced politics that we the people of the usa need more desperately than ever before, the politics of the declaration of the politics of the preamble to the constitution. F the United States i have read many of the socalled civil rights books of the last 50 or 60 years about the period between 1953 and 1973. Most of the books are wrong about john lewis. Most of the books are wrong engaged inohn got the National Campaign in 195960, a year of the sitting everygn that swept into state in the union, largely manned by students because we. Ecruited students put upon the map that the nonviolent struggle that began in montgomery, alabama was not an accident, but as Martin Luther king junior called christian love, power we never tapped, but if we use it, we can transform our lives and the earth in which we live. It providential, since i moved to nashville, tennessee, dropping out of graduate school, and national came people like kelly smith and andrew white and janetta hays and dolores wilkerson and john lewis and vivian,sh and ct bevel, paulinam knight, angela butler. In 1958of us gathered and 1959 and 60 and 61 and 62 in the same city at the same time i count as being evidential. We did not plan it. We were all led their. Led there. When the council met in the fall of 1958, we determined that if there is to be a second Major Campaign that will demonstrate the efficacy of soul force, of love truth, that we would have to do it in so i planned as the strategist and organizer, a four point Strategic Program to create a campaign. We decided to desegregate downtown nashville. Nobody had ever thought about desegregating downtown, taking off immoral signs off of drinking fountains, but it was like women who made that decision for us in nashville. I was scared to death when we made that decision. I knew nothing about how we were going to do this. I had never done it before. Strategy. Nned the john lewis did not stumble in on that campaign. John lewis smith invited to join the workshops in the fall of 1959 as we prepared ourselves to face violence and to do direct action, answer put on the issue that the racism and segregation of the nation had to and. So in the 60th anniversary of that suit in campaign, which became the second Major Campaign of the Nonviolent Movement in america, those are not my words. John lewis called what we did 1973 the953 and Nonviolent Movement of america. Not the crm. Words are powerful. History lifts up truly the spirit of the john lewiss of the world. [applause] and that is why i have chosen to say a few words about it. Invited and i met a student who told me about a student from chicago who wanted to do something about those vicious signs. Nash to thee diane workshop in september because we are going to do something about those signs. The sign. John lewis had no choice in the matter. You should understand that. Because all the stories we have heard this morning of john becoming a preacher, preaching to the chickens and other sorts of things, becoming ordained as a baptist minister, Something Else was happening to john in those early years. The malignancy of alabama. Troy, sensibilityin him a that he had to do something about it. He did not know what that was, but he was convinced that he was indeed to do whatever he could do, get in good trouble, that so manyhorror folks lived through and in in this country and that part of the 20th century. Alone. S not martin king had the same experience as a boy. I had the same experience from age four and the streets of massillon, ohio. Mccullough, a pastor, whose name you do not know in south carolina, at the same experience. Ct vivian had the same experience. I maintain that many of us had we tried to do what do primarily because at an early age, we recognized the wrong under which we were forced to live, and resort to god that by gods grace, we would do whatever god called us to do in order to put on the table of the nations agenda. This must and. Black lives matter this must end. Black lives matter [applause] so between 1953 and 1973, we had Major Campaigns year after year, thousands of demonstrations across the nation that supported it. We had folk in the congress, folk in the white house, folks scattered across the United States who are beginning to formulate what solutions are for change. The media makes a mistake when john is seen only in relationship to the voting bill of 1965. However important that is, you must not forget that Lyndon Johnson on the congress of the United States in the 1960s past the most advanced legislation on behalf of we the people of the United States that was ever passed. , billions of dollars for housing, we would not be in the struggle we are today if president reagan had not cut that billions of dollars for housing, where local churches and local nonprofits could build Affordable Housing in their own communities and be sustained and financed by loans from the federal government. , we passededicare antipoverty programs, civil rights bill of 1964, 19 c5, Voting Rights bills 1965, Voting Rights bills. A whole array. John lewis must the understood as one of the leaders of the greatest advance of congress and the white house on behalf of we the people of the usa. [applause] we do not need bipartisan politics and we are going to celebrate the life of john lewis. Constitution to come alive. We hold these truths to be self imminent. We need the congress and the president s to work unfaltering on behalf of every boy and every girl, so that every baby born on these shores will have access to the tree of life. That is the only way to honor john robert lewis. No other way. Let all of us in the service today, let all the people of usa determine that we will not be dies as long as any child in the first year of life in the United States. Aswill not be quiet as long the largest Poverty Group in our nation are women and children. Aswill not be quiet as long our nation continues to be the most violent culture in the history of humankind. [applause] as long as be quiet our economy is shaped, not by freedom, but by plantation capitalism that continues to cause domination and control, access foris liberty and equality for all. [applause] we have not created them. John lewis did not create them, we inherited them. Is our path to see the spiritual forces. I name them racism, sexism, capitalism, plantation capitalism. Those poisons still dominate far too many of us in many different ways. Johns light was a singular to the from birth campaigns in the south, to see that to get us to must forces of wickedness be resisted. Do not let our own hearts drink any of that poison. Of the, drink the truth , if we would honor and celebrate john lewis life, let us then recommit our souls, our minds, our hearts, our bodies, our strength to the continuing the wrong dismantle in our midst and to allow a earth and newnew. Eaven to emerge i close with this poem from langston hughes, which is a kind of sign and symbol of what john and what we,nts too, can represent and are continuing journey. Worldon hughes, i dream a human,m a world where no , wherer human will scorn and will bless the earth, peace its path adorned. All will dream where know sweet freedoms way, where greed no longer saps the soul, are great slides our day. A dream where lack and white and yellow and blue and green and red and brown, or whatever your race may be, will share the bounties of the earth and every girl and man and boy and is free, where wretchedness joy, like aad and pearl, attends the needs of all , i dream to celebrate labor for annd atlanta, and los angeles, and a thatd states in the world is to celebrate the spirit in the heart and the mind and soul and we seeks liberty, quality and justice in the communities for all. Thank you. [applause] three living president s with us today. We have heard from yet another. To the friends and family of congressman john lewis, roslyn joins me in sending our condolences to all who gather today to mourn the loss of one of our nation is great leaders. Throughout his remarkable life, john has been a blessing to countless people, and we are proud to be among those of lives he touched. While his achievements are enjoyed by all americans, we georgians know him as our neighbor, friend, and representative. His enormous contributions will continue to be an inspiration for generations to come. Please know that you are in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time. We hope your warm memories in the lives and prayers of your family and friends will be a comfort to you in the days ahead. Sincerely, jimmy carter. [applause] if i can help somebody as i pass along can hear somebody with a word or song that hemebody , then mying wrong shall not be in vain then my living cannot be in vain yeah yeah, not be in vain somebody as ip pass along shall not be in vain , if i can do my duty as a christian in a can pray the beauty world could share my message and call on, then my living shall not be in vain living vain not be in yeah, yeah my living, yeah not be inot, shall vain could help somebody if i could help somebody i pass along, then my living it shall not then my living it shall not living shall not hallelujah shall not, then my shall not be in vain shall not be in vain [applause] i want to first call attention to the excellent job the media has done to inform us of john lewis. The media been tremendous and keeping us informed . [applause] i have never seen such coverage, wantohn deserved it, but i to talk a moment of my presentation on john before he became famous. I met john when i came to , and i came to atlanta on the same day that she came to work at the university, atlanta university, and i came to work for Martin Luther king, junior, and the southern christian leadership conference. That is where i met john. Saw him all the time. We were all involved in the same quest for equity and justice. I got a chance to see him all the time, and i admired his tenacityd all of his and he was single. She needed athat umsd man, not just the b approaching her. She was well educated, highly traveled, and i wanted her to have someone who would really appreciate her skills and talent. So i looked around and decided that i like john. But lillian did not like john particularly. She thought he was kind of slow, and i said, lily, but he is busy. He is fighting the evils of the world. She said, yes, but. I said, grow, listen, this boy is going places, so lets see what he can do to get this thing moving. So we decided, well, i did, as her friend and that is what you do for friends. You have to help them out. [laughter] and so john had to go to the hospital for an examination, and i said, oh, lillian, this would be a good moment for us to be florence nightingale. So we went to the grocery store, bought a bunch of flowers, and i said, he will be impressed because she was a little slow, too. I said, we will go to the hospital, and that will just impress him. He will notice you more because you are bringing him flowers while he is in the hospital. Well, we got in the hospital, and there was a young woman already there. She was spreading out his pillow and adjusting his comfort. Lillian said, oh, shoot. And i said, well, i already asked john, john, do you have a young woman you were especially interested in . He said, well, not really. I said, that is not the answer i am looking for area i want a more definitive answer because ive got some things in mind. Slow about it john was slow about it and said, not really. I decided on new years eve, lillian was single and had no plans, so i said, i will have a dinner party and invite the two of them and maybe they will give us a chance. Lillian thought i was going to have a big party. John. I was having a big party. When they got to my house, there was only room for three of us. [laughter] me. Two of them and now, we are discussing the wiles of the world, and i am hoping now they will get a little closer and closer. And when john did not have a date on new years eve, i knew he did not have a commitment. Everybody has a date on new years eve with somebody somewhere. I am thinking, it is new years eve and here ive got a. And then things started happening, and still, slowly, not fast enough for me, but i was patient. Finally, lillian said, i do like him. I said, ok, i am ready now. They got her dress ready and we are going to have a wedding. And i am not really sure. Ago,ed john not too long did we ever ask you if you would take her . Gave him ank i ever opportunity to propose. We just had a wedding. [laughter] [applause] and so now it looks like things are ok. Planningall the because lily was still slow, and i did all the planning and we had a wedding. Ok, andngs were going she said, well, you know, i dont like the idea that that girl looks like she has some designs on john. I said, honey, do not run away from competition. We can handle competition. We will get rid of that girl so fast, she will not know what happened to her. [laughter] and we did. And they got married. [laughter] [applause] well, i want you to know they were very happy, but when she found out lillian was welltraveled and well educated, but she absolutely do not like politics. But when john expressed an interest, lillian got in there and became his strongest supporter. Everythingrything, to make his successes work for him, and it did. Then, john came along and he was the cutest little boy. Then, she said, they gave me the honor of being his godmother. I said, that is nice, but what does godmother do . What am i supposed to do . She said, if something happens to me and john, we want you to take care of him. I said, we got to feed him . [laughter] kid. Se john could eat as a i said, feed him every day . They said, yes. And then spank him when he acts up. Well, i agreed to that, but john miles, stand up. That is john miles now. [applause] now, or wait a minute. Now wait a minute. Take a good look at john miles. I am 411 and almost 90 years old, and there he is. And i was supposed to spank him when he didnt do right. [laughter] when i walked up to john miles to give him a spanking, i had to get permission because he is real big now. And ilove john miles then love john miles now, and i will take care of you and spank you whether you like it or not, ok . [laughter] [applause] but lillian and john stayed married. I put it together, but it lasted 43 years. That is not a bad record, is it . They were happy, and lillian gave him every support a wife could ever give a partner, and they gave love to john miles in the process. Was an unusual individual, and ambassador young sitting over here, and we all loved him all the time. His sincerity was apparent. He worked hard. He said he was not going to stop. And i dont need to tell you anything about john. All of you knew him. All of you know his fervor and his commitment and the love he , and i want use to look at the john we thought we knew, the john who convinced us we knew the real man because he was constant, but i asked him one time, john, what in the , i said, when i was a young girl, and they would tell me to go out on a date, and my mother said, have a good time, but dont get no trouble. Know ourselvest nothing else except trouble was not good. But john said, the good trouble is. When your mother says dont get in trouble, find a way to right the wrongs of our society, and he did a pretty decent job of that. [applause] and during this week, john was on television all day, every day. And i love young people. I had an opportunity, so i was invited to speak to a group of kids. I said to them, as you are watching television, i won you to know that i want you to know that is not a Public Relations program youre watching. That is the story of a man who lived the life they are talking about. John made a decision on the type of life you would live. I said to those young people responsibilities of making your life have the be. Ing you want it to you can either decide to be the bank robber or the bank owner. It is your choice. The man you are seeing on lifeision decided that his was going to have a quality to can, ass much as you long as you can, as often as you can because that is what john. Ewis did but il not forget john, not forgetll you, do these praises and what you read in the newspapers about how wonderful he was, but do something about it, the man he asked us to be in ourselves, and that is behind to everybody. Up. Everybody, speak i dont need to tell you that. You know what he said. But what you can do, and what i would like to advise you, and that promise you, to really get to the job you love, and vote. Thank you. [applause] , obama, speaker mayor madam iyor, roman 8 18, for consider the sufferings of the present time to not be worried the glory which shall be. Vealed to us when i met john there was 40 years ago, our lives intersected because in 1960, he came to my hometown, raleigh, north carolina, to form sncc at a small black college at charlotte university, where my father was president of the naacp and led civil rights demonstrations. Again, in 1963, our lives intersected because my father returned from the march on washington. Speaker,raving about a young john lewis, who had electrified the route, so imagine when i finally met him in atlanta in 1976 as a young law student, it was a transcendent moment by meeting like meeting historical figure, like Thomas Jefferson or benjamin franklin, who wrote the declaration of independence. Yet, here was someone who made america live up to those noble words, along with dr. King, reverend abernathy, andy young, joseph lowery, ct vivian, another lion we lost on the same day as john lewis. John had an incorruptible integrity and an ideological. Urity which was like a halo somehow, this extended to everyone who was in his orbit. Myself included. And that is the reason for nation has paused from pandemic, to protests, from politics, to bid him farewell today. Every News Organization has hailed john as a civil rights hero, but john was a womens rights hero, a gay rights hero, a worker zero, and immigrants rights hero a workers hero, an immigrant apostrophes rights hero. John was not on the right side of history, history was on the right side of john lewis. [applause] time, he introduced legislation to create the africanamerican history museum, and he thought the bigots in congress for 15 years until he tried yet again against insurmountable odds. One of his proudest moments was standing in the dedication of that monumental structure four years ago. For those who wondered if perhaps his time had passed, with his body ravaged with cancer so frail and fragile, that he used a cane, and in what he surely knew would be his last public appearance, he summoned thestrength to walk to middle of black lives plaza in washington, d. C. , to express the solidarity and support for the young protesters who had begun to change america, as john lewis did as a young man. Victors writehat history, so i declared today that the history of the 20th century as it is written, john lewis will stand beside gandhi, the king, mandela is one of the great transformative Freedom Fighters of humankind. [applause] and while the nation mourns a great leader, i will miss the deer, loving and loyal friend who allowed me the extraordinary privilege to walk along the side of a living saint, st. L ewis. In the last days of his life, when we both knew that death was imminent, i desperately wanted to tell john about how much he meant to me in the country, but in a solemn moment, he pulled me closer and whispered, everyone has to vote november, it is the most important election ever. [applause] and i promised him with that every fiber in my body, i would tell everyone, if you truly want to honor this humble hero, make sure that you vote. First corinthians tells us when faith, hope and love remains, the greatest of these is love. John lewis was love. Good night, sweet prince, and may flights of angels carry the two that rest carry thee to that rest. [applause] good afternoon. Masks because i have john lewis voice in my head, and he would say, be particular. Of the staff, i would like to thank john miles and the entire lewis family for the honor and the privilege of sharing the congressman and misses lewis, who was his partner in life and in Public Service, with generations of the staff in the last 33 years in celebration of his life and legacy. The congressman would one me to tell you, as i look at you today , you look good, you look fresh, you look clean, you look beautiful. Thank you. We are honored to serve you, and we were honored to serve him. We would also like to express our sincere and great appreciation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the majority leader, majority whip, the clerk of the house of representatives, the office of employee assistance, the congressional black caucus, and all of your amazing staff for your patience and your guidance. Uring this very difficult time people always ask us, what was it like to work for congressman lewis . What was he like a close, in real life . It is too difficult to explain, so our answer was always the same, he is just as you imagine, but better, and that no day was ever the same. What you know about the congressman is true. He was a gentleman and truly of the people and a peaceful soul. When he came into the office every single day, he would greet every staffer, every intern with a good morning, sir, good morning, maam. He would then request every successful speech, bill, mark up with thank you, young brother, thank you, sister, thank you, my child or my dear. As staff, we felt we should maintain a space where the congressman could be completely and holy himself. In college, we also say there is the freshman 15 new game. Well, in our office, there was the john lewis 20, because he and michael would bring in lunch with some cake, some pie or some and they would want everyone to come together and share a meal. We were a little family, a little enclave. A lot of drama, a lot of fun, and so much love. He broke down those work terriers, and he welcomed our parents, our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, our godchildren, and our friends into the circle, making them feel equally in awe of his greatness. Sometimes the world got a glimpse of our nest during impromptu gatherings, and certain videos may go viral, but we were like a well oiled machine when it came to policy and casework. Although we were like that in enjoyed stirring things up in the office. You might call him a little bit of an instigator. He would get us in trouble with michael, try and corner us with questions and stir things up, and with time, you knew not to take the bait, and you would learn to say, oh, no, congressman, you are not going to get me today. He would laugh. I think that is what i am going to miss the most. His laugh. And not the one you see on television, you know . But the one where he would be sitting back and shooting the wind, and he would throw back his head, and he would just laugh from his heart, his belly, his soul. So many workers are often taught to be invisible, but with mr. Lewis, he always saw you and made you feel special and worthy. Dr. King and rosa parks spent time with him as a teenager, and it changed his life. I believe he spent every waking moment paying it forward. He could be absolutely exhausted but still take one more picture, spend one more moment, especially with young people. This meant that we were always, always, always behind schedule. Lesson ofy first staffing for congressman, was to learn to operate on john lewis time, which translates into late, but trusting it would always work out. As he told everyone, he could out walk the entire staff. And so our duty was to keep up. When it was time to move, he did, but when it was time to be present, and the congressman needed a little quiet, we would try to create that space. He would slow down to appreciate and absorb the majesty of the moment for his own mental archives. Just as we tried to preserve the sanctity of his space, he allowed us to be our true and authentic selves, just the very best version. Unique, staff who were and i think represented either a little bit of his personality or what he needed to complement it. We made our ways to mr. Lewis on random paths, coincidences, some strategies or others, and through believers in divine intervention. Resume,ot hire based on but your energy, your essence, your passion, and your potential. Musicians,roup of airtraffic controllers, dancers, entertainers, artists, historians, and every once in a while, an actual lawyer or political scientist. He got all up into our business. And was there in spirit or in. Erson for the big moments in the same way he always took a call from mrs. Lewis or john miles, he let us drop everything in a family emergency, and ofilies have strong memories time in his office while their parents are nearby. He let us be ourselves, especially when it came to civic participation. Protest, organize, testified, and always, always, always vote. We tried to absorb his energy and lessons. To my knowledge, three staff served him for over 20 years, butler, anderry Michael Collins. [applause] may you please stand . [applause] there is a whole generation of atff who are right hind them 19, 15, 17, 14 years. Ruth riley, brenda jones, and then there are the staffers who could never really leave, like jacob gillis and, whom he kept pulling back in as friends and confidantes. Although some of you and some people moved on, you could not really because his spirit is in you forever. His voice is always in our head. Mindful, be particular. Make it plain, naked simple, make it sing. Make it plain, make it simple, make it sing. Working for him was a little bit of a nightmare sometimes. Because no matter how hard he worked, you worked, he always worked harder. Every single day he woke up at the crack of don, a watch dawn, watched the news and read the newspapers because his memory was like a living encyclopedia, which meant he forgot nothing i could pull Something Back from 15 years ago because it was the same staff and we were still there. He expected us to be informed with facts from primary sources, not your say not hearsay. And when he walked into the office, he would ask what constituents were writing about and add that information to his and his archives. You learn the hard way or the subtle way because he was not direct that when he asked you a question, he usually knew the answer but wanted to see whether or not you could represent him and his constituents. When preparing for a big vote or speech, he would drop a subtle hint, have you read this poem . This speech . A book . Scripture . Do you remember this painting . Letsen he would say, come back and talk about it later on. Hint would prepare you for the aftermath of those executive sessions he had with himself, and after those sessions, we would learn how and in which direction the spirit moved him, and then we would have our marching orders. He would take the essence of a complicated policy and make it accessible and real to the people. Loved serving on the ways and means committee. He always showed up, and he hated to miss votes on the floor. Let me say that again. He could not stand to miss votes. The voice messages i have from him about the votes he was about to miss are still on my phone to this day. This is the reason why we are so thankful that congressman kilby and his staff were willing to serve and help us cast the ballots during the pandemic and to serve as his proxy. The congressman would walk the halls, sit in committee or the office, and he loved the beauty of the house of representatives. He loved his closeness to the people and the complicated reflection of the status of our nation. Every visitor to our office received a full dose of southern hospitality, the offer of a coke, a brief tour of his office, and sometimes on our beloved balcony, with a stunning view of the u. S. Capitol. While he loved his country and all its people, the record should be clear on his immense pride in representing georges fifth Congressional District. He was so proud to represent Metro Atlanta and all of its cities and counties and people. Serve, toa mission to make them feel heard, inspected, and represented, regardless of where they fell on the political spectrum. The constituents were our compass, and congressman lewis worked around the clock to find solutions to their challenges. When it came to Public Service and policy, his name did not need to be on the headlines or on the front lines. It was the action and the results that mattered. Not every problem needs a bill. And he could always find compromise without compromising his values or his principles when the challenge presented itself. He played the long game and you every trick in the book, and he expected the staff to fight in a nonviolent manner for the people. When constituents were concerned about the rights, he took action. When faced with inequality and health services, he advanced technical changes to reduce the cost and increased services to lifesaving care, especially for the issues that affected communities of color, like Kidney Disease and copd. When workers faced pension issues, he found ways to give them security. When families were separated to immigration policies, he worked around the clock to reunite them. When people could not get their Social Security checks, he thought, sometimes for years, to make that happen. When taxpayers and workers struggled with an outdated bureaucracy at the irs, he worked to modernize the entire agency. When he heard from frustrated veterans, he fought for their respect, their earned benefits and their care. When he saw an alarming increase in abusive relationships, he developed strategies to stop the cycle before it began. When some tried to eliminate the u. S. Institute of peace, he found a way to build a coalition and the prospect of hope and peace still alive. When he was worried about the fore of our globe generations yet unborn, he introduced Environmental Justice act. When looking at the rights of marginalized communities around the world, he worked to diversify the base of our diplomacy and insert empathy and standards for our global policies. And when people complained about immovable lines to vote, he cowrote the Voter Empowerment act. The list is too long to recognize his legislative and policy successes and the impact he has on people across the nation and around the world. So, i ask you as we sit in this historic space, and as you drive through Metro Atlanta and you feel and see the greatness of his legacy, historic preservation, and civic education, i ask that you hold it in your heart, in your soul, and your spirit. He felt we needed to know and study our history to make sure we never repeated it. He was both it is so difficult to explain the magnitude, the genius, the gentle grace of this man. I would ask for the staff to take a stand please, so that you can see and know just a sample of who we are. [applause] thank you. A few years ago, we had a reunion and we realized there are not that many staff. We have a lot of fellows, but the congressman held us close. I do not think there are many offices where you have the opportunity to hold your bosss hand, adjust his time, until every person that you love them. He created this space, this family. As a staff, we are heartbroken. We are lost, but we know that the work continues, the fight remains, and we cannot, must not, get lost in the sea of despair. How you may honor the congressman, i will echo the words of the greats who stood here before. You can make sure that his work, sacrifices, message live on and that there are actions every person can do regardless of their age or station in life. Recognizee mindful, the dignity and worth of every human being. Be the best version of yourself. The informed, stay engaged, even though the work is hard. And if you are of age and eligible, for the love of god, please vote. Thank you. [applause] good afternoon. Obrien andheila nm the sixth nice of iece of congressman john lewis. On behalf of the family, we would like to thank you from the depths of our hearts for the support, love, encouragement, and prayer, the honor, respect, and camaraderie bestowed on the lewis family has never will never be forgotten. Who would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the chief of staff, Michael Collins, who has now become my first cousin, and to each staff member [applause] each staff member that has worked tirelessly with and for congressman lewis, especially during this time, where it is not enough during this time. Words are not enough to express how grateful we are for all you have done, especially for my cousin john miles. Payme here to tribute to a man order the, known to the world as john lewis, but to his siblings as robert, and to his nieces and nephews, uncle robert. If you would permit me to call him uncle robert right now, i would be grateful. Uncle robert loved his family and we, as you can tell, loved him. He was a son to our buddyarents, granddaddy and ma. He was the husband to one wife, father to one son, and brother to a lot of siblings, too many to name. We do not have time. While we knew how important he and his work was to the world, when we were with him, we saw uncle robert. We saw the man that enjoyed spending time with his family, reminiscing about days gone by, catching up on family dynamics, enjoying a good meal, sharing laughter and love. We, like the world, knew that lewis that hope, courage, bravery. The word of god tells me many are called but few are chosen. In the civil rights 60 years,or the last activist for those who could not speak, a champion for those who could not fight. He, along with many other civil rights icons come to became the change icons, became the change the world needed. Stood in30 years, he solidarity with the fifth Congressional District of georgia. He has been recognized, revered, and held to the highest esteem for the work he has done. He broke barriers, tore down walls, defied stereotypes, and refused to be moved from his stance on injustice, liberty, and freedom. He made it time for everyone and was always picture ready. He did not miss an opportunity for a photooptical op or to take the opportunity to spend a few moments with his constituents. Listening to the numerous accomplishments, some of which he labored for years over, it is evident why his life is being celebrated at this magnitude. He truly made in impact not just on america but on the world. Ofay, we celebrate the life congressman, our uncle robert, the main who labored, talked, sat, heldght, knelt blacks and whites, bled, lifted his voice, bent his knees, and was willing to give up his life for a righteous cause. Lets continue this celebration of life by taking the dip to on taking the baton he has put down and endeavor to get into good trouble, necessary trouble. Lets not give up, give in, lets never give out. Lets keep the faith, keep our eyes on the prize, rest and power, uncle robert. May your legacy live on and never die. We believe you have heard the words from our heavenly father. Well done, good and faithful servant. I say to all of us, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Guess what . It is morning time. [applause]