Memorializing the Honorable John Lewis

Floor Speech

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Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) for allowing me to do this.

I rise tonight to honor the life and legacy of John Lewis.

John dedicated his life to equality and justice, and the Nation we are so blessed to live in is better because of his work and his sacrifice.

John was driven by his deep faith, his servant heart, and his love of his fellow human being. While John was always right to fight for legal changes to make America better, he ultimately knew that how you treated your fellow human being was a matter of the heart.

John led by example. He led by showing love and grace to all people. He showed love and grace even to those people who disagreed with him or showed him contempt.

John was always willing to offer forgiveness to those who had done him wrong, knowing that forgiveness was fundamental to building a relationship built on trust and love.

Two of my most vivid memories and treasured experiences here in my time in Congress involved John.

One was a dinner at his house. He invited the Georgia delegation over, and he retold the story of his life and experiences in the civil rights movement. What a cherished memory and experience.

The second was the night that we honored another Georgia giant here, former House Member and former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. I remember the night that Johnny Isakson and John Lewis met in the center and embraced in true love, friendship, and respect. It was truly an amazing moment.

John was an amazing man, and I believe that the only thing John Lewis ever hated was hate itself.

Rest in peace, our dear friend.

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