Inspirations
Former KKK member, Elwin Wilson, reached out to Lewis to apologize for beating him in 1961. Lewis said, "It was very touching for me for him to come to Washington and say I'm sorry for what I did. Mr. Wilson in almost 50 years has been the first and only person that attacked me and said I'm sorry." Wilson says, "One day, I hope that [everyone] gets the hatred out of themselves." Lewis changed one man and undoubtedly many more. |
"If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take the long hard look and just believe that if you're consistent, you will succeed." (John Lewis) |
Books
Lewis's accounts have prompted groups into direct action. Laura Hudson, journalist, reported, “Lewis and Aydin (Lewis's staff member) received an email from several students who had seen them speak at LSU. They told the congressman and his aide they’d formed an activist group called Baton Rouge Organizing, using March and its depictions of the national student movement of the ’60s as a blueprint. 'They invited me to be on their Facebook group, and now I get to see all their direct action and watch it grow. They’ve already engaged in direct actions and civil disobedience. They’ve been covered by numerous media outlets in Louisiana protesting both the decision as well as police brutality in and of itself, and they’re already trying to find ways to organize around voting rights. They formed a central committee, they meet, they plan actions, and they act,' said Andrew Aydin.” |