Скачать или смотреть John Lewis memorial takes shape near White House

(20 Jul 2020) A small memorial of signs, flowers, and candles is forming at Black Lives Matter Plaza just north of the White House as the country continues to mourn the loss of Congressman John Lewis.
As one of the original leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, Lewis' legacy still resonates decades later as Americans continue the fight for racial equality and to end police brutality following the murder of George Floyd in late May 2020.
"It just sort of leaves me speechless thinking he is no longer around especially in this moment where we have seen this resurgence of Americans advocating for against racial injustice... I think for many people it's very sad that he won't be around to contribute to that," said Darlene Superville, a White House reporter for the Associated Press.
Norman Powell, from Richmond, Kentucky, decided to visit Washington D.C. and see the Black Lives Matter Plaza. Seeing Lewis' memorial sparked Powell's memory of attending the original March on Washington as a child.
"It's amazing that he spent basically all of his life fighting, and advocating and working and trying to bring about change for freedom in this country. And we need many more people to step up like him. And we can't let his death be for naught," Powell said.
Despite being diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2019, Lewis continued to serve his 17th term in Congress. Georgia Democrats have selected state Sen. Nikema Williams to replace the late Rep. John Lewis on the ballot in November.
"He was just a remarkably even... fierce but gentle spirit and that will be hard to replace," said Bill Barrow, a political reporter for the Associated Press.
In his 30 years as a representative, Lewis championed efforts to expand and enhance voting rights to all Americans.
For Powell, he thinks going to the ballot box this November will be the best way for people to pay their respects to the late congressman.
"All Americans who are interested in change, and all Americans also who are wanting to carry on the legacy of John Lewis will vote. And will vote in a way that he would want us to vote, and for the kinds of causes and mission that he would want us to support," Powell said.
The Democrats are pointing out that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had refused to bring the 2020 Voting Rights Act, passed by the House, up for a vote before the Republican-controlled Senate.
The measure would restore federal oversight of state elections after the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated much of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in 2013.
Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and others urged McConnell to allow a vote, and several said it should be given a new name: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

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