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Sunday, 19 July 2020 13:58

U.S. civil rights pioneer, congressman John Lewis dies

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photo : reuters

John Lewis, a pioneer of the civil rights movement and long-time member of the U.S. House of Representatives, died on Friday, a passing that prompted tributes from leaders across the political spectrum. A Democratic member of Congress from Atlanta since 1987, Lewis had announced in December that he had advanced pancreatic cancer. He was 80. Lewis was a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whom he met after writing to him when Lewis was just 18. He was the last surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, having stood beside King when he made his “I Have a Dream” speech. Tributes to Lewis, who endured numerous beatings and arrests in his lifelong fight against segregation and for racial justice, poured in on Saturday. President Donald Trump ordered flags to fly at half-staff throughout the day. Lewis and Trump tangled in January 2017, shortly before the inauguration, when he said he did not view Trump as a “legitimate” president because of Russian meddling in the 2016 election to boost his candidacy. Trump shot back that Lewis was “all talk” and “no action,” drawing criticism even from fellow Republicans//Reuters

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