Lewis, who served as the representative of the United States in Georgia’s 5th Congressional District for more than three decades, was widely viewed as a moral conscience of Congress due to his incarnation of nonviolent civil rights struggle for decades. His passionate oratory was backed by a long history of action that included, by his count, more than 40 arrests as he protested against racial and social injustice.
A follower and colleague of Martin Luther King Jr., participated in sit-ins at the lunch counter, joined the Freedom Riders on challenging segregated buses, and, at the age of 23, was a keynote speaker at the historic 1963 March in Washington.
Lewis’s family is urging supporters to host “John Lewis Virtual Love Events” at home to watch the ceremony, tie blue or purple ribbons on their front doors or patios to honor his life, and post virtual tributes to Lewis online.
Here is the calendar of the upcoming events commemorating Lewis, provided by his family:
“The Trojan Boy” – Saturday in Troy, Alabama, and Selma, Alabama
A service celebrating “The Boy from Troy”
Trojan Arena, University of Troy
10 am CT – 11 am CT
Open to the public as space allows. The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
Congressman Lewis lies at rest
Trojan Arena, University of Troy
11 am CT – 2 pm CT
Open to the public. The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
Selma greets Congressman John Lewis
Brown Chapel AME Church
6 pm CT – 8 pm CT
Congressman Lewis lies at rest
Chapel Brown A.ME. church
8 pm CT – 11 pm CT
Open to the public. The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
“#Good Problems: Courage, Sacrifice, and the Long March for Freedom” – Sunday in Selma, Alabama, and Montgomery, Alabama
The final crossing
Edmund Pettus Bridge
10 am CT
The public is invited to watch the procession as it travels from the Brown Chapel to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
Reception ceremony
Front Entrance Hall, Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery
2 pm CT
Congressman Lewis lies in state
Alabama State Capitol
3 pm CT – 7 pm CT
Open to the public. The family kindly asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
“The Conscience of Congress” – Monday and Tuesday in Washington, DC
Special ceremony proceeding to lie in the state
Roundabout, United States Capitol
2 pm – 3 pm
Congressman Lewis lies in state
United States Capitol
3 pm – 10 pm
Open to the public. The family kindly asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
Lie in state
United States Capitol
Tuesday 8 am – 10 pm
The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
“Atlanta Service Leader” – Wednesday in Atlanta
Special ceremony proceeding to lie in the state
Roundabout, Georgia State Capitol
2 pm – 3 pm
Lewis Congress is in state
Roundabout, Georgia State Capitol
3 pm – 7 pm
8 pm – 8 am
Open to the public. The family asks attendees to cover their faces and mouths.
Omega Service Fraternity Phi Beta Sigma
Roundabout, Georgia State Capitol
7 pm – 8 pm
“A Life of Service” – Thursday in Atlanta
A celebration of life
Horizon Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary
11am
Internment
South view cemetery
CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux, Lauren Fox, Faith Karimi and Brandon Griggs contributed to this report.
.
