Valley Update

July 21: Candlelight vigil to honor memory of U.S. Rep. John Lewis

July 20, 2020

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Portrait — Leaders of the March on Washington in 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. John Lewis is second from right. Left to right: Mathew Ahmann, executive director of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice; Cleveland Robinson, chairman of the demonstration committee; Rabbi Joachim Prinz, president of the American Jewish Congress; A. Philip Randolph, (seated) organizer of the demonstration, veteran labor leader who helped found the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, American Federation of Labor (AFL), and a former vice president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); Joseph Rauh Jr., Washington, D.C. attorney and civil rights, peace, and union activist; John Lewis, chairman, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and Floyd McKissick, national chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past will honor the memory of U.S. Rep. John Lewis during a candlelight vigil this week. It occurs 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21 on the steps of the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 10 E. Commerce St., Youngstown.

The community is invited to attend the vigil.

Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past had a long-standing connection to the civil rights activist and icon. Each year, Lewis flew to Atlanta to meet Sojourn students as they began their journey to civil-rights sites in the South. Lewis said he knew this journey would be transformative for young people. Before beginning the visit, students read Lewis’ autobiography, “Walking With the Wind.”

(Amazon)

In 2011, at the request of Sojourn to the Past students, Lewis traveled to Youngstown and spoke at East High School to students from Chaney, East and the Rayen Early College.

During the event, Lewis spoke about his adherence to the Six Principles of Nonviolence during stands for social justice. And he challenged them to do the same.

“Our hearts are saddened by his passing, but we realize we now have the responsibility to pick up his baton and continue his battle for justice for all people. With John Lewis as our role model, we can do nothing less,” said Penny Wells, executive director, Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past.

For more information, call 330-207-4467 or email

pe*********@sb*******.net

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