Legendary Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) never hesitated to put his reputation — and life — on the line for what he believed in. This was most notably exemplified during the “Bloody Sunday” at the infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., where his skull was cracked and could have died, and also during his journey as a member of the Freedom Riders into the same state where he was also beaten to a pulp and hospitalized.
After being willing to give his life on multiple occasions, he is now trying to save lives by leading a sit-in inside the nation’s Capitol to force Republicans to vote on whether to institute additional gun safety measures amid the worst recorded massacre in American history at the Orlando, Fla, gay nightclub at the hands of a demented psychopath, who killed 49 people and injured another 53.
Threatening a “sleep-in” on the floors of the House inside the Capitol, Lewis said, “Sometimes you have to do something out of the ordinary. Sometimes you have to make a way out of no way. We have been too quiet for too long … There comes a time when you have to say something, when you have to make a little noise, when you have to move your feet. This is the time. Now is the time to get in the way. The time to act is now. We will be silent no more.”
“As the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history has underscored, our country cannot afford to stand by while this Congress continues to be paralyzed by politics,” Lewis wrote in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, urging him to keep the House in session so members could debate and vote on gun control. “We urge you to lead the House into action and work with both sides of the aisle to pass commonsense solutions to keep American children and families safe.”
Few question Lewis’ resolve and willpower or his willingness to take his stance all the way given his celebrated and illustrious history. He was joined by Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson, Michigan Rep. Dale Kildee, Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes and Conneticut Rep. John Larson who vehemently decried the lack of a vote.
“Give us a vote. Let us vote. We came here to do our job. We came here to work. The American people demand action,” said Lewis.
Stay tuned to further developments.
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