DeLauro Honors Hero, Congressman John Lewis
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) delivered the following remarks on the passing of fearless leader, civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis. A video of DeLauro's remarks can be found here.
In October 1995, the Black Clergy in my community asked if I could get Congressman John Lewis of Georgia to come to New Haven for our local elections. I was honored to welcome John to my hometown. Here's what I said about him that evening:
"John Lewis is a true hero of the cause of progress. It is often said that John Lewis is, and I quote, ‘one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced.' The most astonishing thing about that sweeping statement is that it probably does not go far enough to describe the heroics of the man you see before you.
"John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing personal dignity, and building what he likes to call, ‘the Beloved Community.' His display of ethics and morality has won him rare admiration from both his House colleagues and from leaders around the world over."
He thanked me for the introduction, and he said to the congregation, "I love my sister Rosa DeLauro." And I loved that our offices when I first came to the Congress were next to each other. I served with Congressman John Lewis for 30 years, and I consider myself blessed. My grandchildren, Teo, Rigby, Sadie, Jasper, met John Lewis. He signed for them his book, March. John Lewis' March tells the story of a poor sharecropper's son who transformed America and so much more. There are few in the world who change it. John Lewis changed it.
The Black Clergy in my community, my grandchildren, my family, you can be sure we will carry on your work, John Lewis. Count on it.