David Perdue: “throughout all of human history, in every generation, there are a handful of people who rise to the level of greatness.…”

“throughout all of human history, in every generation, there are a handful of people who rise to the level of greatness. Despite adversity, danger, and sometimes impossible odds, these great men and women fight for what is right and push our society forward and make America better for the next generation. That has been true for the last 230 years. Representative John Lewis in our generation, who just passed away last week, was certainly the embodiment of this type of greatness. John was a titan in the struggle for civil rights and the equality of all races. Because of him, more Americans can enjoy their God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. John's lifelong fight against injustice began at a very young age, as we now know. When his local library banned African Americans from checking out books, a teenaged John Lewis wrote a petition requesting and demanding equal access. From that point forward, John Lewis never backed down from the fight for what is right. He always remained peaceful, despite receiving physical violence and going to jail for his protests. His commitment to nonviolence served as a guiding force in John's life. He founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to fight for nonviolent resistance across America. In 1961, he participated in the Freedom Rides to protest segregation in public transportation. John's determination for equal rights only grew stronger and more effective over time.…”