Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, as I have said, nearly all the Members of this body who had the privilege to get to know Congressman Lewis would count among their finest honors the chance to serve in this esteemed institution with him. John was really the embodiment of goodness. John Lewis was someone who I never heard cast aspersions, who I never saw angry or directed anger at someone else. He certainly had anger toward injustice and really channeled that energy and his passion to make sure that everyone in the United States had an opportunity to live and experience justice as his life's work. There were so many times that John's rallying cry for Members of this institution was that we needed to stand up and speak out and make sure that we did not remain silent. That is absolutely essential and is as important today as it was back in the 1960s and before that when he was walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and leading the fight for voting rights. We carry on that fight for him to this day in his memory. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.”