John Lewis Forever Stamp Debuted at the US Capitol

By: Adonis Armstrong

Yesterday, on June 21st, House leaders convened in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis. In a significant event, attended by members of both the Democratic and Republican parties, the ceremony unfolded to debut the United States postal stamp commemorating the former politician and civil rights activist.

As per a press release from the United States Postal Service, the image featured on the stamp is a photograph of John Lewis captured by Marco Grob for the August 26, 2013 edition of Time magazine. Describing his incredible career spanning three decades, the statement emphasizes Lewis's unwavering dedication to what he referred to as "good trouble," even in the face of hatred, violence, and numerous arrests, with the Alabama native's life epitomizing a relentless pursuit of justice. Born in 1940 to sharecroppers, he devoted his entire life to advocating for equality. Tragically, Lewis passed away at the age of 80 in 2020 due to cancer.

In 2015, John Lewis introduced his now-famous phrase, "good trouble." Reflecting on the influence of Rosa Parks courageous action and the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., he expressed his inspiration to actively disrupt the status quo and provoke change, emphasizing the importance of "good trouble" and the necessity of such actions. The official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp is scheduled to take place on July 21st at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

“I may be in a different party. I may have different views, but I’m an American. I got goosebumps, and I got tears thinking how far we had come, and thinking that John Lewis led the march on that bridge and led the introduction that day,” During the remembrance of the congressman, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) recounted a significant moment when Congressman John Lewis shared a historic occasion with President Barack Obama in 2015, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" events in Selma, Alabama. Also, Vice President Kamala Harris took to Twitter yesterday to share her thoughts, “This Forever stamp is a beautiful tribute to Congressman John Lewis’ enduring legacy. A giant amongst men, a hero to us all, we honor him by marching forward and continuing the fight to protect and strengthen our democracy,”

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