How Did John Lewis Influence The Civil Rights Movement

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John Lewis is man not many have heard of, but really, everybody should. He was a big part of the Civil Rights movement that occurred from 1954 to 1968, in The United States of America. He was a part of the horrendous “Bloody Sunday” that occurred on January 30, 1972. On “Bloody Sunday”, six hundred people were marching peacefully from Selma to Montgomery. When they reached the top of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, there were Alabama State Troopers and police officers blocking their way. Moments later, a peaceful protest erupted into a bloody mess. The police officers started attacking, and the marchers did not try to fight back, only protect themselves. At the time, John Lewis was twenty five years old, and was there in honor of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating …show more content…
and Rosa Parks, who stood up for their people’s rights no matter the cost. He was inspired by their words, and their commitment to nonviolent acts. He wanted to be like them. He thought that desegregating Troy College would be a good start, but his parents convinced him not to, so instead he attended the American Baptist Theological Institute and Fisk University. He liked to attend sit-ins around segregated facilities, and stand up for his people’s rights. He did not believe in people being different because of their race.
At the time, John Lewis was Chairman of the SNCC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was a group committed to getting voting rights for African American people. They did huge sit-in’s. For example, once they did one where they sat in restaurants and refused not to be served because of their race. They also became more popular with the Freedom Rides, which John Lewis was also a big part in. The Freedom Riders were people who rode in buses that were strictly not allowed for them because of their race. People were arrested because of this, but nobody backed down. Everybody wanted Equal