John Lewis has crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge one last time. RIP

I was a young baw in the 60’s and distinctly remember the social unrest during the civil rights era, I particularly remember the integration of the public schools. When I think back to that period of my life it truly seems like a movie I may have watched but it was real.

This morning as I watch the caisson carry John Lewis body across the Edmund Pettus bridge one last time I think of the brave men and women who locked arms on March 7, 1965 to walk across that bridge in Selma AL. They knew they were in certain danger for bodily harm, including death and they walked anyway.

Congressman Lewis was one of those brave souls who walked across that bridge and he would pay the price for challenging the establishment of that separate but equal era because these civil rights pioneers knew they were yet to be considered equal. Mr Lewis‘ skull was fractured, his body was battered but he sacrificed himself to help move our society forward towards true equality.

I find little in common with John Lewis politically. During his time in Congress Lewis frequently drummed up racial divisiveness for no good reason, he knew the racial aspect of identity politics was a powerful motivator to keep Black Americans voting for the Democrat Party.

I can put my political differences aside and recognize John Lewis’ historical contributions to racial equality, yes, Mr Lewis was a man of remarkable bravery and his steadfast belief in the Democrat Party never wavered. RIP John Lewis.