ATLANTA – State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) today issued the following statement to thank the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis for his public service and example to others on behalf of the citizens of House District 76:
“‘When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up; you have to say something, you have to do something.’ This is my favorite quote from Congressman Lewis.
“It is so hard to say, ‘goodbye.’ We appreciate your courage and the sacrifices you made on a daily basis to defend the lives of people. You put the lives of others before yourself, and for that, we are grateful. We will continue to honor you as we go to the polls to vote.
“As I stood on the top of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in March and visualized the beating you all took as you crossed over the bridge, it gave me more fight, strength and courage to stand for people. I watched as you stood up in the car and gave your last speech on the bridge. I can still hear you talking about the struggles of the past, and why it is so important in this day and time that we all vote.
“I am going to do all I can to make sure our people vote.
“‘Stony the road we trod/Bitter the chastening rod/Felt in the days when hope unborn has died; yet with a steady beat/Have not our weary feet/Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?/We have come over a way that with tears has been watered/We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered/Cut from the gloomy past/Till now we stand at last/Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.’
“Rest in peace, Congressman John Robert Lewis.”
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
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