Grisham responds for the democrats. Plus, insight and analysis from our powerful roundtable. And he always did that which was right from his heart. We celebrate the life and legacy of john lewis as he crosses the Edmund Pettus bridge one last time. Announcer from abc news, its this week. Here now, chief anchor george stephanopoulos. Good morning, and welcome to this week. On this sunday, as we celebrate a civil rights legend, the country is still in the grip of the coronavirus that has transformed our society, ravaged our economy, upended our politics and most tragic of all, cost so many lives, at least 145,000 in the u. S. This week, more than a thousand americans died on tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday and saturday. Five days straight for the First Time Since may. And as the caseloads continue to climb, the president s poll numbers continue to fall. Now trailing joe biden by more than eight points with hundred days before the final votes are cast. Our first guest has his work cut out. We want to welcome mark meadows. His first sunday interview as white house chief of staff. Announcer this is an abc news special report, celebrating john lewis. Now reporting, george stephanopoulos. Good morning, and welcome as we celebrate the life and the legacy of john lewis. Called the conscioence of the congress, the civil rights icon and legend in the fight for civil rights in america now being laid to rest. Six days of memorials across the country. That is the scene in selma, alabama right now at the metropolitan chapel. Thank you for sharing him over and over again. Our nation is better off because of john robert lewis. My life is better. Selma is better. That is congresswoman terry sewell. So thank you, family. Thank you to his dedicated staff. Thank you to all those who loved john. Johns love was unique and allencompassing. It was powerful. You felt it radiate. I miss him dearly, but we are so deeply blessed to have been touched by his greatness. He will forever change selma and this nation. On bloody sunday in 1965, john was confronted by Alabama State troopers and their dog. They beat him with billy clubs, fracturing his skull, but john was determined to fight for equality and justice, putting his own life on the line in the service of others and a Brighter Future for everyone. John crossed bridges so many times, insisting that our nation live up to the ideals upon which it was founded. As he always said, he gave a little blood on that bridge. As always, john was humble. His humility rang true. As he takes his final march, that final crossing, john bridged the gaps that so often divided us. Our Political Parties working every day for a more just and equitable america. My heart is full knowing that john is crossing that selma bridge today in his final march. His final march, that final crossing so different from the first, speaks to the legacy that he leaves behind and the lives that he has changed. Its poetic justice that this time, Alabama State troopers will see john to his safety. They will accompany him on his last trip over the selma bridge and onto montgomery where he will lie in state at the capitol. John has left this earth, but his legacy remains on, and we continue to benefit from his lifes work. Hes laid out the blueprint for us to pick up the baton and continue his march, for Voting Rights, for civil rights, for human rights. John believed firmly that the best days of our nation lie ahead of us. I hope his passing causes us to rededicate ourselves to getting into good trouble, necessary trouble. Cant you hear him . Never give up. Never give in. Keep the faith. Keep your eyes on the prize. For john and our nation, lets make him proud. [ applause ] that was congresswoman terry sewell of alabama. Youll hear the musical selection from kristen glover. Precious lord take my hand lead me on, and let me stand i am tired, i am weak and i am worn through the storm and through, through the night lead me on to the light take, take my hand precious lord, and lead me on when my way grows thin precious lord linger near when, when my life is almost gone hear my cry, hear, hear my call oh, hold my hand, hold my hand, lord lets not fall take, take my hand, precious lord, and lead me on [ applause ] kristen glover, and now a prayer by pastor otis culiver from the baptist church. God, of our word weary ears. God of our solemn tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way. Thou who has bowed our might, led us to the light, for in thy path we pray. Gracious father, with ecoe come your presence this morning reverencing you as our god. Understanding that it is you that made us and not we ourselves, that we are the sheep of your pasture, and it is in you that we live, move and have our being. We thank you for this day. We thank you for life and another opportunity to serve you this day and live out your purposes in the world. We thank you, lord, for this occasion as we have assembled ourselves here to give thanks to you for a life well lived. Thank you for congressman john lewis. Thank you, father, for his legacy, his legacy of being a freedom fighter, his legacy of being a foot soldier for justice. The legacy of being a servant of humanity as he walked humbly with you and as he always remembered his roots and always strived so that this world could be a better place. A more equitable world, a world that is more just and more righteous. Thank you for his service to humanity. Thank you, lord, that he was willing to get in the way. Thank you that he was willing to stir good trouble. Thank you for his voice, the voice that will resonate in our hearts and minds for years and generations to come. Thank you for his message. Thank you, lord, for using him for such a time such as this to bridge divides and help us become a more perfect union. I pray this morning for his family. I pray, lord, that you will comfort them as only you can, that you will undergo with them your strength and grant them your grace. I pray for your peace, thats the path of all understanding and peace in their hearts in their minds to christ jesus, our lord. And lord, i pray that we who are still remaining, who still have blood running warm in our veins, that we too will stand for justice, that we will stand for righteousness, that we will lift our voices for you. Lift our voices for the calls that is just and right. Until we hear your welcome voice say well done, good and thankful servant. As congressman lewis crosses the alabama river, we rejoice today knowing that hes already crossed the jordan river, and hes now resting in your presence. In jesus mighty name, we pray and answer all these things. Amen. All amen. Pastor otis culliver. This concludes the structured program. We just have a few notes that we need to give everyone. First and foremost, if we can just show some appreciation to the congresswoman. In selma, alabama as we prepare for the final crossing of the Edmund PettusMemorial Bridge by john lewis. That church, the Brown Chapel Church was the place where they prepared for the march on march 7, 1965, and now preparing for the final farewell to john lewis. As we prepare for that, lets listen to john lewis who recall that day in his own words. In 1965 in selma, alabama only 2. 1 of blacks voting age were registered to vote. The only time you could attempt to register to vote in selma, and most of alabama was on the first and third mondays of each month. You had to go down to the county courthouse, stand in line, go up some steps through a set of double doors and try to get a copy of the test and try to pass the test. Countless number of africanamericans stood in what i call unmoveable lines day in and day out. A young black man tried to protect his mother during a confrontation at the courthouse. He was shot in the stomach by a state trooper. A few days later he died at a local hospital in selma, and because of what happened to him, we made a decision for a movement that we would march from selma to montgomery to dramatize to the nation that people of color wanted to vote. So sunday afternoon, march 7, 1965 after church, we walked through the streets of selma, crossing the bridge, crossing the alabama river. We get to the highest point on the Edmund Pettus bridge, and down below we saw a sea of blue. We continued to walk, and a man said, im major jean claude for the Alabama State troopers. This is an unlawful march, and it will not be allowed to continue. You are ordered to disperse. Less than a minute and a half, the major said, troopers, advance. He came toward us, beating us with night sticks and clubs. I was hit in the head by a state trooper with a night stick. I thought i saw death. I thought i was going to die. That day became known as bloody sunday. There was a sense of righteous in the nation. The next day, there was a demonstration in different cities in america at the white house, at the department of justice. The American People didnt like what they saw happening in selma, alabama. Sunday that sparked a movement for Voting Rights and it began there. The Edmund Pettus bridge. Rachel scott is there for us today. Rachel, in 1965, that bridge was stained with blood. This morning, its lined with rose petals. Reporter thats exactly right, george. It was stained with john lewis blood, and today rose petals on the very streets where he bled for the right to vote. Hundreds gathering here today to honor the civil rights icon, a man who never settled, who always stepped up, always caused necessary trouble as he would say. Flowers at the foot of the bridge here, and, you know, in 1965, 55 years ago when john lewis marched across this bridge with hundreds of others, he looked at the name Edmund Pettus, napettus named after a kkk leader, and he was dreaming of a better america, and he was willing to put his body on the line for it. When he crosses the bridge for the final time, many say its because he has made america a better place. What was once a symbol of injustice is now a symbol of hope and civil rights for so many, and the Alabama State troopers who nearly took his life decades ago will now carry his casket across the state as we honor his legacy, george. Thank you. I want to bring in byron pitt. He was just 25 then, but a man filled with courage. Reporter well, george, without question. He was a 25yearold activist, an idealist, a man of deep and abiding faith. He talked about how he prayed as he crossed that bridge, the Edmund Pettus bridge. As rachel said, named after a confederate officer who went on to be a leader in the kkk and a u. S. Senator from the state of alabama. That bridge, george, is about four football fields long. John lewis says when he was crossing it, his biggest concern because he had confronted police before. His biggest concern was they might be tossed off the bridge which was about 100 feet off the ground, because john lewis couldnt swim. But he was willing to go forward anyway. I think about we just saw that image of his close friend, dr. Martin luther king jr. Who said not long after bloody sunday, that the arm of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice, and i think in some ways, today symbolized that. In 1965, john lewis was an agitator. He was confronted by the police. He showed up with 600 other people that crossed the bridge. They were denied. They came back two weeks later, 3,000 protesters eventually 50,000 people reached the montgomery statehouse, and then there is today, george, when john lewis crosses that bridge for a final time. He will go across this time i would imagine with millions of americans. People across the world who now see this former activist as a statesman, as a symbol of what is good in america. And thank you, byron. Pierre thomas as we prepare for this to happen right now, we remember that after those events on bloody sunday, just several months later, the Voting Rights act was introduced and passed through the congress. John lewis helped spark a movement, and it comes at a time in america where the streets are filled again. Reporter jorgeorge, what a remarkable day. Youre exactly right. Its about coming full circle. Theres a timing and a meaning of life. Facing a brigade of police as official enforcers of oppression, and in that moment, you can see the roots of mistrust today between africanamericans and the police. The angry mob was the police. The police beat him down. When you look at pictures of lewis from that era, he looks just like some of the young people today pushing for Racial Justice as part of the black lives matter movement. He identified with them. Wanted them to get into good trouble. It was quite something to see him down on black lives matter plaza recently here in d. C. , george. Emotional. It was full circle. The battle today still centers around human dignity, the desire today for africanamericans to be treated equally in the society with full respect, and sadly africanamericans are still fighting for their full humanity. They dont want to be treated as suspects first and citizens second. John lewis life was about that struggle, george. Pierre thomas, he fought on so many fonts. We want to bring in mary bruce for more on this. Started out as an activist and idealist, as byron said. Many years later, after serving the Carter Administration he decided it was time to get involved in a different way. Election to congress. Reporter he became known as the conscience of congress. He really was the moral compass in washington on so many issues over many decades in congress. He would lend his voice, his power to so many other cause. He had a kinship are other causes lending his clout and his voice to the fight for womens rights, lgbtq equality, gun reform and immigration, and still even, you know, in his final months and weeks still keeping up that fight. Im struck every time i look at these images that we have been seeing, just how rare it is to have someone like john lewis who was able to see his hard work, his sacrifice come to fruition, to see his legacy play out in such a meaningful way, you know, he was just 25 years old when he crossed that bridge, that image of to him with his hand in his pockets wearing that backpack that had just an apple, an orange, a toothbrush and a book on government. The things he thought he would need to get through one night in jail, and instead he changed the course of this history of our country, and to be able to start out his activism, fighting for something as simple as a library card, a seat at the lunch table, to change the course of Voting Rights in our country, and become a voice that would lend support to president s, and be one of the most powerful voices in congress, what a remarkable thing, and george, i was fortunate enough to have the chance to be there on the 50th anniversary when we saw congressman lewis and president obama march across that bridge. Ill never forget the words that lewis said on that day. He said we come to selma to be renewed. We come to be inspired. We come to be reminded that we must do the work that justice and equality calls us to do. Get out there and push and pull until we redeem the soul of america. Words that are so true still today, george. And there you see that remarkable scene there in selma. The casing that will carry john lewis coffin across the bridge one final time. Byron pitt as we wait, Martin Luther king was supposed to lead that march that day, but he had to preach, and john lewis led. Of course, it was king who was the mentor to lewis. Lewis first reached out to him as a very young man. What he got back was a bus ticket to come see the leader. Thats right. John lewis was 18 years old when he wrote to dr. King and said, dr. King, i want to help. John lewis wanted to serve in becoming a leader of the selc at university. It was a threequarters of a mile walk from the chapel to the bridge. Back in 1965, that chapel became a triage. They had nurses and doctors on hand, and medics because they knew there would be trouble. You know, george, in my last conversation with congressman lewis, i had the good fortune to interview him a number of times. It was after the george floyd incident, and he saw he saw a great similarity in what was happening in america now to 1965. He felt that as pierre talked about, and we heard in congressman lewis own words that bloody sunday was a Pivotal Moment in our nations history, that there had been beatings before captured on camera, but something about that moment changed america just as George Floyds moment changed america, and later in 1965 when president johnson was preparing to sign the Voting Rights act, he said this about bloody sunday. At times history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point and mends an ending search for freedom. So it was a century ago, and so it was last week in selma, alabama. John lewis was there. He was apart of that. Part of the reason why i think people so admired him or respected him in washington where, you know, george, its hard to find friends, john lewis had street cred. Everybody knew this was a man who didnt just talk the talk. He walked the walk. He was willing to go to jail 40 times. After bloody sunday, george, he was in the hospital for three days with a fractured skull and a concussion. As soon as he got out of bed, he went back to work, back to that bridge. And now we see the honor guard carrying him. The caisson is secure. They will now set off on a threeblock journey to the Edmund Pettus bridge. Rachel scott, give us a sense of the scene on those streets as they wait for the caisson to pass by. Reporter well, hundreds are gathering here, george, eager and ready to pay tribute to this civil rights icon. Songs of we shall overcome, they came with signs to honor his life and his legacy, and, you know, the Memorial Services like his fight for justice started in his hometown of troy, alabama. He was nicknamed the boy from troy. A nickname that Martin Luther king gave to him when they first met. A few blocks away from Troy University where hundreds came to honor his life and his legacy, john lewis was denied a library card. He was told that the library was told for whites only. Well, decades later, he would be elected to congress and that same library invited him back for a book signing of his autobiography, and that day he said, hundreds of black and white citizens showed up and he ended up walking away that day with a library card. Just someone that was able to see the legacy of his life play out in front of him in such a powerful way, george. In such a powerful way. Pierre thomas though, he had no idea on march 7, 1965 whether he would actually get across that bridge. Reporter thats right, george. You know, the word hero is thrown around way too much. As a black man from the south, let me go there for a second and describe what he faced in that period. This was a time when George Wallace was the governor of that state. George wallace was a face in the symbol of segregation. In fact, the words dripped from his mouth one day when he said segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever. When john lewis was crossing that bridge, he was facing a system that sought to oppress black people at every level, to make them feel inferior. So when he went across that bridge, and hes looking at that crowd of police officers, as he said, a sea of blue, it was remarkable courage that he had to have, and george, every now and then, you know, people talk about how he was beaten and its almost a cliche. The mans skull was fractured, and sometimes in my youth ive closed my eyes and imagined what it would take to have the courage to be beaten like that within an inch of your life and then go out and do it all over again, george. Byron pitts, a commitment as well. A commitment to endure the violence. Without committing violence in response. Reporter exactly right. Dr. King preached nonviolence, and john lewis was in the choir singing the same song. He believed deeply in that. Later years when the Civil Rights Movement began to fracture, part of the tension was over those who felt because there had been so much violence against africanamericans, people of color in this country, people were so angry, john lewis said, no. Were not going to resort to that. He believed that deeply with every fiber of his being. He talks about in his wonderful memoir, walking with the wind, he talks about this portion of the journey to the Edmund Pettus bridge. As i mentioned, it was about a threequarters of a mile walk, so they started off in a black neighborhood and there are cheers and people are wonderful and kind, and they wander through white neighborhoods and people are jeering at them, and they get their first glimpse of night sticks and billy clubs. They get to the bridge and its about four football fields long. Its high. At its highest point of the bridge, you cant see the other side. When they get to the top, as he said, they saw the sea of blue. Not only sheriffs deputies, but a posse of civilians that they had recruited that day. Some men had rubber hoses with barbed wire wrapped around it. Thats what they faced. They talked about stopping and turning around and going back as any reasonable person might, but because john lewis believed so deeply in the cause, believed that nonviolence was the answer to violence, he said, no. Lets push on, and they did. That courage he showed that day, that deep and abiding faith he showed that day, did help to change america. It changed america. Mary bruce, he maintained that faith through his whole life, and displayed one of the greatest virtues, forgiveness. Reporter yeah. It was just remarkable. The size of john lewis heart, to think that he eventually one day would go on to forgive governor wallace who was the one who ordered those state troopers to take, quote, whatever means necessary to prevent them from getting across that bridge, but john lewis said that instead, truth would have to have the final say in history, and so when years later when wallace would seek forgiveness, lewis said he had no other option but to forgive him, saying that to not forgive him would only perpetuate the evil system we sought to destroy. It is just remarkable, and, you know, im struck especially as you see this march beginning, and as byron talks about what was happening in that moment in 1965, that as they were marching to the bridge, lewis had later said, describing that moment, that while the pictures made them look so alone walking two by two towards that bridge, he said he felt like they were with a band of brothers and sisters. The seen and unseen who marched with us, our spirits joined with others through the ages, lewis said who were determined to stand for justice, and they were also there. Thats what was going through his mind. As they came over the peak of this bridge and saw the tremendous show of force waiting to attack them in return, and it was this moment. Because so many saw it. Because it was broadcast. Because those images were simply impossible to ignore, really seared on the minds of this nation. The horrific nature of segregation, and as you see now these crowds gathered to watch lewis final march, to think that in 1965, there were actually crowds there cheering on the state troopers as they attacked lewis in these other peaceful protesters. What a remarkable journey. What a change we have seen because of the work of john lewis. Today will be friends, family and supporters on the other side, yet it is still called the Edmund Pettus bridge. Rachel scott, there is a movement now to change it and name it in honor of john lewis. Reporter yeah. There were new calls, george, to try and get this bridge renamed after john lewis. Edmund pettus was a leader of the kkk, and they say that the bridge does not represent now the symbol of civil rights, the symbol of hope that came from that march in 1965. So the calls are growing for this bridge to be renamed to john after john lewis, the name they believe reflects the legacy and the life and the future and the direction the country is headed in. Byron, there is some resistance to that in selma itself. Some locals say it doesnt give due justice to all those who fought before john lewis and perhaps the name should remain as a reminder of what that past was like. Echoes of that debate across the country right now in so many institutions. Reporter oh, yeah. George, this is a debate, but i was thinking about that very topic this morning. There arent bridges named after adolf hitler in germany, right . John lewis is apart of our nations fight, and he represents a nation going forward. I was thinking about and reading his book this morning walking with the wind, and he describes those moments crossing that bridge where he says, the first the troopers came over me, a large, husky man. Without a word, he swung his club against the left side of my head. I raised an arm, a reflex motion as i curled up in the prayer for protection position. I was bleeding badly. My head was now exploding with pain. There was mayhem all around me. I could see a young kid, a teenage boy sitting on the ground with a cut in his head, blood just gushing out. Women were on the pavement. Many weeping, and some were vomiting from the tear gas. Men were purposely riding over top of fallen people, bringing their hooves on peoples shoulders and legs. Women were screaming, god we, we being killed, cried another. Sheriff clarks deputies chased us all the way back to the front of browns chapel. So george, i guess it is a debate in some circles about what the Edmund Pettus bridge represented then and what it represents now. But it seems to me theres a compelling argument in the time we live now that you might want to consider the argument to rename this bridge after john lewis who was as much a son, proud son of alabama as was senator Edmund Pettus, and a son, one can make the argument, who did as much for alabama as any other politician born in that state. And pierre thomas, we will always remember whether its renamed or not, we will always associate this bridge with that man. Reporter indeed. The courage, the fortitude, the resolve to do what he did, and george, his legacy continues to move on here. He played a major role in the africanamerican museum here in washington. Not a lot of people know that. Pushed for that to become a reality. It is one of the seen and visited museums in washington. This is a man who was at Barack Obamas inauguration, spoke. We know how much barack obama leaned on john lewis in terms of being an inspiration. So his legacy is one of the American Dream in the process of being fulfilfulfilled. And mary bruce, weve talked about his courage. Weve talked about his fortitude, his capacity for forgiveness, but we should not mistake that for meekness in any way, shape or form. As a member of congress, he didnt mince his words. Reporter no. He certainly did not, george. I think most people will really remember him in congress for that. Those bellowing speeches, that thunderous voice you would often hear when he would go to speak on the house floor and speak out forcefully. As we were discussing earlier, you know, he lent that voice to so many other causes whether it be womens rights, lgbtq equality. In recent years, immigration. In fact, he was arrested in 2013, you know, in his late 70s along with a largely millennial crowd pushing for immigration reform, speaking out against the policies of the trump administration, and i will never forget in 2016 when he led his colleagues in an overnight 24hour sitin on the house floor for gun reforms right after the horrific shooting in orlando. He was constantly pushing his colleagues in congress to stir things up, to not accept things just continuing on the way they had to be, and also for the younger generation, showing them what it meant to cause good trouble. That was something he took pleasure and pride in, in teaching the next generation not just about the history and what he experienced, but how to carry on the cause, how to carry on his legacy, and, you know, george while today is his final march across this bridge, he was just there in march. He was there almost every year. He would have these pilgrimages where he would travel to this bridge with other members of congress so they could also understand what he experienced there, the history, but also to remind them that the fight was so, so far from over, and to push them to do more. These pilgrimages back to the Edmund Pettus bridge were something that he felt so strongly about because it gave him a chance i think to take stock of how far this country has come, and how much this country still has to do, george. We talk about his unmistakable voice, mary. He was there when i worked there as well. One of those members of congress would hold back until the end of the debate, but one of the few who when he took the floor, the room would fall silent. Reporter everybody would pique up, and it was such a difference. Im glad you mentioned this because, you know, interacting with him in the hall of congress, he was soft spoken. He was a quiet, humble man. He would often move silently through the halls. He is not someone that in his private life necessarily mirrored that public figure. But man, when he spoke out, whoo, everybody listened up, and he did so carefully, and with such purpose especially in these final years of his life when he would speak out against the trump administration, you know. He was very forceful in calling out what he felt was wrong in the handlings of this administration. He was blunt, one of the first voices to say to you, george, actually that he thought the president was racist, and he was one of the first voices to come out and say he was not going to attend president trumps inauguration, that he felt that he was not a legitimate president , and in doing so, john lewis took those moments he chose those moments very carefully, but he did so knowing that when he spoke up, he was leading and he was giving cover to other members of congress to follow suit in that example of not attending the inauguration. Some 70 members of congress, democrats ultimately did not atte attend, and they did so because they were following the example of john lewis because he sent the message that this was a time when he wanted to speak out and speak up, and leave a mark, and he certainly did on so many issues, george. Rachel scott, he started speaking up as a very young boy, the boy of troy. You you were in troy, alabama, his holmto hometown. He would practice preaching to the chickens in his backyard. Reporter he did. He would preach to the chickens and he actually talked about it in his autobiography, how he would run away from field work to go to school, that his parents were stuck between a rock and a hard place having to choose between Economic Prosperity and having their children stay home and work in the fields versus actually going to school, and how he would run away because he had an eagerness to learn, an eagerness to read, and that eagerness never left him, you know . When he was elected to congress, he gave his brother a thumbs up, and his brother asked him, what was that about . He said, we came a long way from the cotton fields of alabama, and they certainly did. John lewis before he walked those marble halls of congress, bled right here for the right to vote. A powerful legacy and one final trip today across the Edmund Pettus bridge today, george. Byron pitts whar, what a jou. The son of sharecroppers. Reporter its a remarkable journey, and it speaks to whats possible in america. The son of a sharecropper, john lewis you ctalks about at 5 yea old, getting the chickens. Many of us wouldnt trust our 5yearolds to get dressed alone, but he had a job. I was a young reporter at wsb, the abc affiliate in atlanta, and i had done a story he wasnt pleased with, and he called me to his house through a mutual friend. I walked into his house on a sunday. He was in suspenders and a belt, and he looked at me. He said, boy. Dont let this tie and shirt fool you. He gave me a big hug and said, if ever you have a question, just ask me. He was absolutely, positively a tough man. You have to be tough to withstand to have the kouncoura not to fight when the instinct might be to fight. People say he was a gentle, kind man. He have loved to dance and laugh and socialize. He loved fancy gatherings, but he was a kid from troy, alabama who knew his way around a fist fight, and would defend the ground he stood on. He did that his entire life. Terry moran, im glad you are joining us now as well. Pick up on where byron left off. The journey in a man in a country over 80 years. Reporter you know, george, that is what im struck by, the timing of the passing of john lewis. At this point in our history, a great man, a great american. Someone who brought the country forward through the force of his beliefs, the way he lived them out with courage and grace. Passing at this moment when the president of the United States has made quite clear that he will stake his reelection on standing in front of the progress that john lewis tried to make and fought for, and put will put at the center of this election, the issue of race in america, Racial Justice, atonement for the racial crimes that have marked our and marred our history. It is a very special moment in american history, and the passing of john lewis in some ways throws it all into very sharp relief. The accomplishments of this generation, and the way he continued the fight, and now the new generation picking up the torch in the streets of our cities to confront a president who who has quite explicitly embraced those who still fly the confederate flag. This is a dramatic moment in addition to one that is quite naturally sad, for the passing of an american hero, but i think john lewis would appreciate the discussion and the reflection that i think his passing generates in the country. It is a heated conversation across america today. Were also joined by a harvard profess who are studied the relationship of the Republican Party with africanamericans and blacks as well. One of the things that should be noted now is that at the time that john lewis was marching, in some ways, civil rights was a less partisan issue you had. Democrats opposed to the fight, and yet republicans supporting it. Absolutely, and i think one of the things that, you know, fundamentally went misunderstood about the moment in lets say 1965, is that support for Voting Rights was a bipartisan act. Antagonism was also a bipartisan act. When were saying republicans and democrats, its not based on party affiliation, but where you are in the region. Southern democrats ared a map ay opposed to the Voting Rights act, and this is one of his talking points that he understands politics. This actually becomes a rallying point for transforming the Democratic Party in the south during this period as southern segregationists even begin to lose in congress or become to be ousted or retire or say so and so. Essentially they oust themselves particularly in their harsh and often violent reactions to basic Constitutional Rights like franchisement and the right to vote. We not only see this bipartisan support, but the transformation during this period, and john lewis is instrumental, instrumental in really charting the way there, and i think one of the things to point out too is that after he moved from the protest action is a policy he chooses to go through the root of the Democratic Party because he says, my past action and my past pushing has proved that the Democratic Party can change. It can become a different organ. It can become a different political institution, and thats where he finds the most viability, and thats why he becomes part of the Democratic Party for the rest of his life. And a member of the congress because of the Voting Rights act, and professor, his death comes at a moment when Voting Rights in america come amidst facing significant threat. Thats the great thats one of the great legacies and also one of the great tragedies of john lewis. John lewis does all of this work, to essentially expand democracy for everyone in this country, you know, the great irony here is that after he does all of this work, right, as a marginalized individual, that even in his death, you know, even in his passing, his battle for Voting Rights has not been solved and were still fighting on multiple fronts. That voter suppression, that attempt to prevent young people, people of color, black people, africanamericans, indigenous americans from voting, its still part of the american political process, and thats horrific. Part of, you know, this last kind of tour deforce of john lewis and the crossing of the Edmund Pettus bridge, and the important sites of the protests and policy career is highlighting the fact that in order for us to be a true democracy, for everyone, that there needs to be concrete action particularly around the right to vote, and so its not just a home going, you know, a religious home going for john lewis, but its certainly that. Its a reminder of what that means for our current democracy. And now we see the caisson approaching the Edmund Pettus bridge. Lets watch. [ cheers and applause ] a pause there at the top of the bridge, john lewis, met by his family members, his siblings, his son. To walk those final steps across the bridge. John wu lewis completes the final crossing of the Edmund Pettus bridge joining now the motor cade to monogomry, alabama. Recreating the march of montgomery also in 1965 in selma. We could hear weve got it from here. We got it from here, george. That is what many were saying here and when you think about 55 years ago, the screams that echoed across selma as those protesters were violently attacked by state troopers but today there were cheers. There were thank yous for a man who paved the way, a man who put his life, who shed blood for the