John Lewis, a fearless civil rights leader and longtime US congressman, died on Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 80.
“The NBA Family mourns the passing of Rep. John Lewis, a great American hero and icon of the civil rights movement and the fight for equality who helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation and social injustice,” the league said.
From organizing protests during the Civil Rights Movement to introducing bills in Congress, Lewis spent his life fighting against racism and injustice. He often encouraged people to “speak up and speak out” and get into “good trouble” as a way to move closer towards freedom.
Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders and a chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). On a day known as “Bloody Sunday,” Lewis and hundreds of marchers were brutally attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge while protesting for the right of black people to register and vote.
In Congress, Lewis introduced a bill that called for a massive black history museum in Washington, D.C. After years of perseverance, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016.
Lewis was a giant in the city of Atlanta, along with civil rights leader and author C.T. Vivian, who also passed away Friday. In a statement, the Atlanta Hawks called Vivian “a distinguished icon whose leadership pushed the United States to greater justice and racial equality for African Americans” and that Lewis “will forever be remembered throughout the city’s peaceful protests to fight racial inequality in the 1960s.”
One of Lewis’ most famous quotes: “You cannot be afraid to speak up and speak out for what you believe. You have to have courage, raw courage.”
NBA players and teams have followed those words by speaking up amid a Black Lives Matter movement that reached an increase in volume this year. Those around the league paid their respect and recognized Lewis as one of the pillars in the fight for justice.
The NBA Family mourns the passing of Rep. John Lewis, a great American hero and icon of the civil rights movement and the fight for equality who helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation and social injustice. #RIPJohnLewis pic.twitter.com/f84qtEZxBq
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2020
Rest. In. Paradise John Lewis. #CivilRightsICON✊ THANK YOU!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 18, 2020
RIP John Lewis Thank You!
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) July 18, 2020
Tonight, we watched the documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble” in honor of the life and legacy of the civil rights icon.
Rest In Peace, John Lewis. pic.twitter.com/huOFZ29031
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 19, 2020
❝ When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something. ❞
Rest in peace, John Lewis.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/dUPLj9374p
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 19, 2020
John Lewis meant a great deal to Jacque Vaughn. Coach educated the team today about the life and legacy of the civil rights icon we lost last night. pic.twitter.com/aMbxRj0Nvh
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 18, 2020
View this post on InstagramThis quote is everything!! Thank you for your leadership. We will continue to push your narrative and act on them. PIONEER! Rest in Power John Lewis
A post shared by Bradley Beal (@bradbeal3) on Jul 18, 2020 at 11:36am PDT
We mourn the loss of Congressman John Lewis. Last night, our city and country lost one of its heroes and most important civil rights icons who was highly regarded for his nearly six decades of social activism and getting into ‘good trouble’.
Statement: https://t.co/2BZ4Xvwkxi pic.twitter.com/KiksxoxWEN
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 18, 2020
Thank you for keeping the dream alive all these years and paving the way for us #RIPJohnLewis pic.twitter.com/81lq8dDwMn
— Chris Paul (@CP3) July 18, 2020
RIP John Lewis
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) July 18, 2020
Yesterday we lost two giants of the Civil Rights Movement, Congressman John Lewis and C. T. Vivian. They were some of the originals to tell the world “Black Lives Matter". We will never forget the lessons they taught us. #goodtrouble #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/QNwLnTGEnm
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 18, 2020
Rest easy John Lewis. Your legacy lives on as we continue to fight the good fight.
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) July 18, 2020
An American icon, civil rights leader and Congressional patriot #RIPJohnLewis https://t.co/SxsnID9sL2
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 18, 2020
.@CP3's response to a basketball question: "It's about life, and who you are as a human being. Today is a sad day in that we lost two of the most powerful activists we've ever had – C.T. Vivian and John Lewis. The impact they had on America is unbelievable." pic.twitter.com/oFWdru1Vas
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 18, 2020
"That's my truth. I think that's more important than any other stuff that's going on down here." – Chris Paul
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 18, 2020
Rep. John Lewis was a light that will keep on shining bright for humanity throughout eternity. pic.twitter.com/tEiQNJiIQT
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 18, 2020
#RIPJohnLewis
Wise words from John Lewis:
“When you see something that is not right… you must have the courage to stand up, to speak up and find a way to get in the way.”
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) July 18, 2020
Rip John Lewis. Hero…
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 18, 2020
“When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something.”
Rest In Peace, John Lewis. Thank you for showing us what #GoodTrouble looks like. pic.twitter.com/heZpEeLOUn
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 18, 2020
“Be hopeful. Be optimistic.”
❤️ pic.twitter.com/sbLXkVIUVz— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 18, 2020
RIP John Lewis.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) July 18, 2020
R.I.P The Civil Rights Icon
Rep. John Lewis.Your legacy will live on forever.
The world is better because of you ♥️ pic.twitter.com/GkRpKpkYmD— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) July 18, 2020
View this post on InstagramOne of the greatest leaders our community has had!! We appreciate everything you’ve fought for and we will continue that fight!! Rest in Power Mr. Lewis!!! ✊✊✊
A post shared by Garrett Temple (@gtemp17) on Jul 18, 2020 at 12:11am PDT
Tonight we lost a force in the movement who’s voice served as a guide for so many us. Rest in Power John Lewis ✊ #GoodTrouble pic.twitter.com/Re14tvxM3A
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) July 18, 2020
RIP! Thank you for everything Mr.Lewis https://t.co/CqC9DYB7Ew
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) July 18, 2020
RIP John Lewis As you said, may we be on the right side of history
"Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won."
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 18, 2020
Rest in POWER ✊ https://t.co/FChabIE8ii
— Shaun Livingston (@ShaunLivingston) July 18, 2020
RIP John Lewis ✊ https://t.co/MjxmQfkSqs
— Justin Anderson (@JusAnderson1) July 18, 2020
