Hundreds Gather in Des Moines For John Lewis Tribute

DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines is honoring a fallen civil rights legend.

Hundreds of people gathered in Pappajohn Sculpture Park Tuesday night to pay tribute to Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who passed away over last weekend at age 80 of pancreatic cancer.

The rally was organized by Des Moines musician Billy Weathers, and featured comments from State Representative Ako Abdul Samad and West Des Moines City Councilor Renee Hardman.

A voter registration booth was also set up. U.S. House Democrats are forming a plan to renew and expand the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Lewis' honor. There's also discussion abort renaming the act after him.

Lewis walked beside Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington and led the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, one of which became known as Bloody Sunday. He was elected to Congress in 1986 and served 17 terms in the House.

(Image from WHO-TV)


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