Related Resources at the Library
Rep. John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles has won him the admiration of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Congress, where he represents Georgia’s 5th District. In 1965, Lewis helped spearhead a seminal moment in the civil rights movement: Along with Hosea Williams, Lewis led more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., in a demonstration of the need for voting rights in the state. The marchers were attacked by state troopers in a brutal confrontation that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” The incident helped hasten passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His inspirational new book is “Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change” (Hyperion).
Previous National Book Festival Appearances
