John Lewis remembered by Bryan Stevenson

21 February 1940 - 17 July 2020
The US lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative pays tribute to the pioneering US civil rights leader and congressman

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How did you first meet?
I first met John Lewis about 30 years ago at the airport in Atlanta. He came over and said: You're the young man representing people on death row." And I said: Yes, I am, and it's such a thrill to meet you." And he said: I just want to encourage you to keep doing your important work." It meant the world to me that he would do that. This was at a time when support for the kind of work I do was not very prevalent. That casual encounter just energised me for months.

I was inspired by him long before I met him and I feel really privileged to have spent time with him in the last few years.