Remembering John Lewis

John Lewis devoted his life to securing freedom, justice and equality for all people, and his courage, sacrifice and service for the common good of humanity will forever be remembered.

Through Congressman Lewis’ extraordinary acts of leadership, we trace the fight of Black Americans against institutionalized segregation and discrimination. He was instrumental in promoting civil disobedience as a powerful tool for change, and was a central figure in watershed events that galvanized national support for landmark civil rights legislation.

A long-time Georgia resident, Congressman Lewis represented Atlantans for over 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he spearheaded efforts to protect voting rights and other civil liberties, end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans and invest in our communities. And, despite his failing health, he was a rallying point in this current time of crisis. Last month, in his first network TV interview since the recent Black Lives Matter protests began, Lewis told Gayle King on CBS This Morning:

“It is my hope that we are on our way to greater change. To respect the dignity and the worth of every human being…”

ViacomCBS enjoyed a unique relationship with John Lewis. Simon & Schuster published his best-selling memoir, Walking with the Wind, in 2015. Paramount released the Oscar-nominated Selma in 2014, which chronicled the 1965 voting rights marches he led with Dr. King, James Bevel and Hosea Williams. We were also honored to have him participate in a Q&A with the film’s director, Ava DuVernay, during a special screening of Selma in Washington, D.C. And just last week, ViacomCBS senior leaders Christa D’Alimonte and DeDe Lea hosted a fireside chat with director Dawn Porter about her newly released documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble. And, over the weekend, video of Lewis crowd-surfing at a Late Show with Stephen Colbert taping resurfaced – one of the many moments that captured his irrepressible joy and trust in the basic goodness of humanity.

As BET President Scott Mills said in a note to his team, “Now more than ever, we owe Rep. Lewis an enormous debt of gratitude for all that he’s done in his historic career…His contributions allow us to stand on the shoulders of giants as we continue the fight for social justice today. We will honor his legacy by making ‘good trouble’ of our very own.”

To honor John Lewis and his enduring contributions, ViacomCBS brands, including BET, CBS, MTV, Smithsonian Channel and others, will air special programming in the coming days and weeks, in addition to continued reporting from CBS News on his incredible life and legacy. And, as we mourn the loss of a national hero, let us commit to building bridges of humanity, inclusion and equity – as he did so courageously. Let us commit to realizing John Lewis’ vision for a better future that is just and fair for all.