Congressman Cohen Joins Congressman John Lewis for 10th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage
March 5, 2010
“I am honored to have Congressman Cohen join us,” stated Congressman John Lewis. “During this pilgrimage there are times when the walls between us come down. We begin to see ourselves, not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of the House or Senate, not as advocates of differing views, but we see ourselves as Americans on a journey to discover our roots. In Alabama, we move through American history. The air is filled with the story of ordinary people with extraordinary vision willing to give all they had to redeem the soul of a nation. We come away with a deeper appreciation of our democracy, of the importance of our role as legislators, and the power of a determined people to make a difference in our society.”
This year’s pilgrimage marks the 45th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, one of the most pivotal events in American history. John Lewis led the first march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965, and was beaten bloody by state troopers. Bloody Sunday outraged people across America and the civil rights movement gained momentum. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. issued a call to action in the wake of Bloody Sunday and, subsequently, led the second march across the Bridge in Selma.
Congressman Cohen stated, “Congressman Lewis is a living legend, a vital touchstone to our past, and my friend. I am honored that he invited me to join him on the pilgrimage. This weekend is important to many Memphians, both those who took part in the civil rights movement and those whose lives have been changed by the work of John Lewis and others who put their lives on the line for civil rights. Even now, those who marched into certain danger are an inspiration to people around the world who are standing up against injustice.”
Congressman Cohen and Congressman Lewis will also be joined on this year’s pilgrimage by noted Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Dr. Bob Zellner, Bernard Lafayette, Bettie Mae Fikes, Carolyn McKinstry and Dorothy Cotton.
This year’s pilgrimage marks the 45th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, one of the most pivotal events in American history. John Lewis led the first march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965, and was beaten bloody by state troopers. Bloody Sunday outraged people across America and the civil rights movement gained momentum. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. issued a call to action in the wake of Bloody Sunday and, subsequently, led the second march across the Bridge in Selma.
Congressman Cohen stated, “Congressman Lewis is a living legend, a vital touchstone to our past, and my friend. I am honored that he invited me to join him on the pilgrimage. This weekend is important to many Memphians, both those who took part in the civil rights movement and those whose lives have been changed by the work of John Lewis and others who put their lives on the line for civil rights. Even now, those who marched into certain danger are an inspiration to people around the world who are standing up against injustice.”
Congressman Cohen and Congressman Lewis will also be joined on this year’s pilgrimage by noted Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. Douglas Brinkley, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Dr. Bob Zellner, Bernard Lafayette, Bettie Mae Fikes, Carolyn McKinstry and Dorothy Cotton.
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