John Lewis was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a key leader in the fight for racial equality in the United States. Born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama, Lewis became involved in the Civil Rights Movement at a young age, organizing sit-ins at segregated lunch counters and participating in Freedom Rides to desegregate interstate transportation.

Lewis was one of the "Big Six" leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young. He was a key organizer of the historic March on Washington in 1963, where he delivered a passionate speech advocating for civil rights and equality for all.

In 1965, Lewis played a pivotal role in the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, where he led hundreds of marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when state troopers attacked the marchers, an event that became known as "Bloody Sunday." Lewis suffered a fractured skull during the attack but continued to advocate for voting rights and equality.

Throughout his life, John Lewis served as a U.S. Congressman for Georgia's 5th congressional district, where he continued to fight for social justice and civil rights. He was a champion for voting rights, gun control, and immigration reform, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his lifelong dedication to equality and justice.

John Lewis passed away on July 17, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to achieving racial equality in America.