This week was a heavy week with John Lewis passing. He was a beacon of light and a moral leader for so many for so long. He was one who taught me about sticking to your morals and fighting for what you believe in no matter what really right even if that wasn’t the mood of the times. He stood strong in his convictions and put his physical well-being on the line for what he believed in. He was the physical embodiment of the idea that the ark of morality bends towards justice. Especially because he so often sacrificed his body, life, and well-being to that bigger cause of justice. I had only learned of Lewis in these past few years, but he's been standing and fighting for what he believed in his entire life. Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders. They faced extreme violence while taking a stand to push the enforcement of a Supreme Court decision that declared interstate segregated bus travel unconstitutional. He was instrumental in the 1963 March on Washington, and until Friday, he was the last person alive to speak to that enormous audience that MLK delivered his "I Have A Dream" Speech. He helped organize in the Selma voting rights campaign, which led to the landmark Voting Rights Act. When he was elected to the house of representatives, he consistently provided a moral backbone for congress and was called the “Conscience of Congress”. He led marches to fight against US military involvement overseas; he was a strong supporter of immigration reform, gun control, and women's rights. He dedicated his life to important things and never wavered from his beliefs. He inspired so many leaders, and just as we're seeing a new generation of people continuing the fight that's been going on for far too long, I'm hopeful seeing new leaders step up with the courage he had. I know I have been emboldened by his words and actions and I am deeply saddened by the loss of such an inspirational man.
Especially now, his words ring true "Freedom is not a state, it's an act. It's not some enchanted garden perched on a high distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society."