John Lewis’ Last Words — To Us
“THOUGH I MAY NOT BE HERE WITH YOU, I URGE YOU TO ANSWER THE HIGHEST CALLING OF YOUR HEART AND STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE. IN MY LIFE I HAVE DONE ALL I CAN TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WAY OF PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE AND NONVIOLENCE IS THE MORE EXCELLENT. NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO LET FREEDOM RING.”
John Lewis’ last words (excerpt above) were written just before his death and published by the New York Times on the day of his funeral, July 30, 2020
Read Lewis’ entire statement here
Read John Lewis’ autobiography: John Lewis, Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement (1999)
Also read: John Lewis and Brenda Jones, Across That Bridge (2012)
Read an oral history interview with John Lewis