two gentlemen dying today who really fought for the rights for all people in this country. the legendary ct vivian and new john lewis. he represented the district that included much of atlanta. had been doing that since 1986. our breaking news tonight -- the death of a legend and the history of civil rights, congressman john lewis has cnn's martin savidge has the story now of his life and times. >> reporter: throughout his life, john lewis stood for people's rights, born in an alabama cotton farm in segregated america. he would not only live to see an african-american president elected president, he would be a major part of making it happen. >> tonight, tonight, we get to hear just in this magnificent state in general, because we still have a dream. we still have a dream. >> reporter: lewis growing up

was angered by the unfairness of the jim crow south. he credited martin luther king jr. for inspiring the civil rights movement. as say student, he organized sit-ins at lunch counters. ♪ >> reporter: in the early '60s, he was a freedom rider challengichallenge ing integration. he frequently suffered beatings by angry mobs. lewis 23 years old at the time was the youngest speaker on the 1963 march on washington. >> we do not want our freedom gradually. we want to be free now. >> reporter: then two years later led a march for rights themselves. ♪ >> reporter: on the edmund pettus bridge he and other

marchers were set upon and beat. lewis suffering a fractured skull it would be remembered as always as as bloody sunday. galvanized into law by president lyndon johnson. lewis never lost his young act it visit spirit. taking it from protest to politics, standing up for what he believed was right, lewis was arrested more than 40 times by police, according to his congressional office. >> i'm on my way and we're going to win this race. >> reporter: he was elected to city council in atlanta, then to washington representing florida's fifth district. fighting and working to help younger generations by improving education. he reached out to young people, creating a series of graphic novels about the civil rights movement, winning him a national book award. in the light of so many moments and great achievements, it was the achievement of another in

2008 that perhaps meant the most. the election of president barack obama. >> we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. we are and always will be the united states of america. >> reporter: a dream lewis admits was too impossible to consider decades before, even as he thought to forge its foundation. >> this is an unbelievable period in our history. martin luther king jr. would be very pleased to see what is happening in america. this is a long way away from the march in washington. it's a great distance from marching across a bridge in salma in 1965 for the right to vote. >> reporter: in 2011, after years of fighting for civil rights, lewis received the nation's highest civil honor,

the united states presidential honor of freedom. lewis considering the impetus of the american national museum history and culture. and he never stopped stirring up trouble, as he called it. boycott and citing the russian meddling. and the protest against president trump's, a congressman then an elderman riled up the crowd with words he lived by as an activist, as a lawmaker, as a leader. >> we must never, ever give up, we must be brave, bold and courageous. so here's our breaking news tonight, congressman john lewis one of the leaders of the civil rights movement who went on to serve 30 years in congress has

died after a six-yard battle with cancer. joining me now is bakari sellers and douglas brinkley. hello to both you have, how are you doing, bakari? >> it's been a tough day, but with both c.t. vivian and john lewis, our heroes around us are dying. my heart goes out to the entire country. usually you send condolences to the friends and family of, but we all knew john lewis. and he's been a part of our lives for a long period of time. so it hurts. today is a sad day, but we're going to lift him up in celebration and joy. i can't wait for his homegoing celebration, it's going to be one of pure joy celebrating a man who gave us so much. don, let me say, i was just looking at a picture. in 1966, i just posted it on my

twitter account, it was my dad and john lewis they were getting bailed out of jail by sidney pointier and henry belafonte. willy wicks and james foreman were there. it harkens back to the day that those true heroes are the reason that don lemon has a prime time show and bakari sellers can be on it. >> yep, so, doug, doug, his legacy, where is -- talk to me by -- sorry. i can't believe that i'm reporting this. but talk to me about the legacy that he is leaving behind. one perhaps as big as a president, or head of state. >> absolutely. i mean, he was the gandhi of america. people have been calling him the conscience of congress.

but he was much more than that. he was a teacher, an educator, a lover. we talk about him being a son of the south, growing up in troy, alabama, and having sharecropper parents. all that john lewis faced, being beaten, telling kids, touch my head there there's a big dent. and touch it, that's where it was. but he always believed in the power of love and not hate and redemption. and so when he was able to eventually get an apology from a former kkk -- you know, police guy who ended up beating him, and lewis accepted his apology, and they hugged because he believed in the power to heal. so, we're talking about somebody as big as frederick douglass and martin luther king jr. and rosa parks.

john lewis is just an important giant. somebody who believed in king's philosophy of nonviolence, it's been relevant for decades. he's loved in this congressional district in atlanta who elected him time and time again. and he believed in this country and the power to heal, but stood by principles, as mentioned the boycotting of inaugurations which was a controversial thing to do. all of the grass roots of black lives matter activists out there, he is their leader. he is their soul. because he's never stopped being a person of the streets and a person willing to protest for what he thought was right. for john lewis mighty thing to do in the cause of righteousness and justice. and this will be treated as a death of a president would be, because john lewis is just larger than life. and his legacy will grow and

grow and grow. bakari, i said earlier, when you were in john lewis' presence you were in the presence of a legend. i say this, and i'm sure it's true. for kids and people up to all ages and all backgrounds, he made you feel like you were the only person in the room, the only person who mattered. and when he spoke to you, he looked you dead in the eye, and he meant is it, right? >> yeah. you know, people forget how long john lewis has been in this game of fighting and justice and fighting for equality. i think he was 22 years old, if i'm not mistaken. he was the youngest speaker on the march with washington.

his relationship with snit, marion barry and julian baun. and a maker of elliott. there's just so much today. not only that, continuously speaking out, even as he's vying dense governor kemp and donald trump just saying they're the antithesis of what he believes to be american values. i've said this and i've said it on your show before, a lot of times, we confuse prejudice and patriotism. i want people to who are watching this, black, white, doesn't matter where you're from to understand that the essence of the american story is john lewis. john lewis' blood literally runs the soils of this great country. john lewis was beaten. john lewis lost loved ones along

the way. but he never stopped being the north star. he never stopped fighting for justice. and john lewis also realized that other people take for granted. he also realized that the election of barack obama wasn't the end or culmination of justice in this country, but instead, the beginning of where we need to go. so, tonight is a tough night. however, we have so much to celebrate, don. you know, we've, unfortunately, done a few funerals together on tv. but you just know that atlanta music. you just know that atlanta whooping they're going to be doing in church down there and the sermon they're going to have when they put him to rest is going to be something i just can't wait to be a part of, as there's so much to celebrate in the life of lewis. >> gentlemen, will you stand by. i want to get to congressman andrew young who joins us by

phone. congressman, thanks for joining. i want to say good evening to you, but it's not a good evening. i'll be honest. >> well, it is, you know? going home is always good. you got to the die, too. you just as well get ready and live a good life so you're ready when your time comes. you know not the day, not the hour. i don't think anybody has spent 80 more fruitful years on earth than john lewis. and i think he did it almost by the book. and when i say by the book he did it by the bible. i mean, he was started out in life preaching the chickens. and he went to see dr. king when he was about 15. and from 15 to 80, he devoted his life almost totally to the service and sacrifice of others.

and this country's better and this city's better, the congress -- i don't know anybody in the congress, in all the years that i have been around congress, i don't know anybody that is respected by more people than john lewis. because i've never seen john lewis angry. i've never seen john lewis, you know, short-tempered. he's always understanding, he's always determined. but he's always -- he demonstrates what i call the power of humility. and he, more than anybody i know, doesn't a trace of arrogance or, you know, hubris about him. he's genuinely humble. and he uses -- well, i don't know.

so genuine he wins you over. he might not have the best argument, but he will quietly say the same thing over and over again. you come around to realize the spiritual power of what he's saying. and so that's been the secret. that very few members of congress understand. and very few people -- jimmy carter has some of that in him, you know. and people always underestimate those with humility. >> i remember back in 2009, congressman, i did an interview with john lewis and elwyn wilson -- you know who i'm talking about, elwyn wilson was

the former kkk -- ku klux klan member who beat john lewis. and it takes a special person to do that after someone beats you bloody. >> i know that. john lewis was the type of person that did that all the time. you could abuse him in an argument and he'd just smile and make you ashamed of yourself. he would demonstrate that there's power in a spiritual confrontation. he never -- he never had a argument and that's why everybody thought that julian bond would be the congressman because he was so articulate and everything. but john had very simple plain

statements, and then when you'd come back at him with hostility or arrogance, he'd just sit is there and smile. and many people underestimated that. in fact, all of us estimaunderee that, but that was a genuine power that helped change the world. >> let me just read this and i want to get your reaction to it, congressman. from martin iii. martin luther king iii. he said john lewis was a voice to the voiceless, he reminded each of us that the most powerful nonviolent tool is the vote. our hearts feel empty without our friend, but we find comfort knowing that he is free at last. that's a quote from martin iii. you all went through a lot

together, didn't you? >> we did. but we enjoyed it. we were not sadists. i mean, the only time i got beat up was down until st. augustine. and the thing that amazed me when i saw it years later on film was that i remember that i didn't even have a headache, i didn't have a pain. and it happened twice on two different corners. and there was no -- i mean, there was nothing for me to be angry about because, you know, we got the civil rights bill passed largely because the klan beat us and we refused to fight back. and when they came marching down the streets in the black community and trying to provoke an attack, people started

singing "i love everybody in my heart." and it was just -- it was a different approach to life. and john simpymbolized and demonstrated that spiritual power until life as well as anybody i know. and over a longer period of time than anybody i know. >> listen, i know that you disagree with me when i say it takes a special kind of person. but i don't know if i could have done what john lewis did and not fight back. where does that come from? >> yes, you could. >> i would hope that i could, but i'm not so sure. >> no i assure you -- i assure you you could, when you're outnumbered 15, 20 to 1, you will cover your head and take

your whipping and get back up. and you won't even be angry about it. because you'll be so proud of yourself for having, you know, having stood up to them. you get what we used to call a freedom high. you come back from a demonstration and everybody would be singing and shouting. and it was -- that's why it's hard to stop movements. because people get this freedom high and they feel so empowered. because they're introduced to a new power. they're introduced to the power of the spirit. and you realize that the power of the spirit can overcome the violence of this world and the arrogance of this world. the humility is in its own way a power factor that most people do not know how to deal with. >> congressman, i want you to

stand by, but i want you to listen to something that's very important. congressman lewis never stopped fighting for what he believes in. i want you to take a listen to this, this is from the 50th anniversary of the march on washington. >> we must say to the congress, fix the voting. we must say to the congress, pass immigration reform. it never makes sense that millions of our people are living in the shadow. bring them out in the light and set them on a path of citizenship. so, hang in there. keep your faith. i got arrested 40 times during the '60s. beat and left bloody and unconscious. but i'm not tired. i'm not we'r weary. i'm not prepared to sit down and give up. i am ready to fight. and continue to fight.

and you will fight. >> he never, ever gave up fighting, congressman. you as well. >> and it was a spiritual fight. he was a spiritual warrior. you got that from martin luther king also. and in fact, you see it in ordinary people that are cleaning our streets and emptying the bed pans in these hotels now. it's part of the thing that has helped black people survive the oppression of slavery and segregation. and even prosperity and fame. because it was engrained in us by our parents and grandparents. >> congressman, thank you. i hope you're doing okay and

your family. >> i'm doing fine. i watch your show. >> i miss you -- i don't live in atlanta anymore. i used to see you a lot. i'm missing -- if this wasn't going on, i swear i'd come down to see you this weekend. you take care of yourself. i hope to see you soon. carolyn said she will never forget -- >> yeah, that was two years ago. >> i was not there, but she came home and preached it for me. >> please tell her hello and give her my love. i can hear her in the background. >> okay. god bless you. >> god bless you, too. you take care. i just want to read this from -- this is from bernice king,

dr. martin luther king's daughter. she's tweeting. she said farewell, sir, you did indeed fight the good fight and get into a lot of trouble. you served god and humanity well. thank you, and take your arrest. #johnlewis. she posted a beautiful picture. that's a great tribute, bernice king, if you're watching. and please call in. we'd love to speak to you. i want to get to suzanne malveaux joining us from phone. what you can tell us about congressman lewis' passing? >> you know, don, it's so nice to hear from you, it's great to hear from andy young and bernice king. and just the time we spent in atlanta, it's amazing that congressman john lewis, it wasn't just inspirational, but

he was always relevant and he was always current. he was always on the streets, no matter where we. just recently, he was just at black lives matter plaza in washington, d.c. and, granted, he did not look the same as he had before. he was a little bit frail. a little bit thinner, but his presence was larger than life. and he was out there on the street. and really just offering a sense of the past. but also really a nod to the present, to the black lives matter movement. and one of the favorite stories, one of this favorite stories that he used to tell as about the time when, you know, the chair of the student nonviolent coordinating committee sncc. he was up against the leader, the older, civil guard guys, it's guys like a. philip

randolph. and he had a different view of what he wanted from the legislation, you know, that the civil rights legislation. and it was the night the meeting before "i have a dream" speech from martin luther king, he was one of the speakers, and he had words with a. philip randolph about how it didn't go far enough. and he was going to criticize and get up there in front of the thousands of people and talk about, hey, this isn't good enough for us, man. and he listened to his elders, and they -- they convinced him that, hey, you know what, you don't need to speak out about it publicly now. we can all come to a point where we're in agreement. and in so many ways, he represented the black lives matter movement that we see today. and that there is always going to be -- and it's completely normal. and that tension that you have between the young folks who want to push, push, push. and make it happen fast, the

older people who are trying their best. and the fact that, you know, he had that respect for his elders. and yet, he could just take a blow and take a blow and take a blow. i mean, it's just one of the best stories that, really, i'd ever heard from him. and the last time that i saw him really, when i was on the hill covering the story was around the whole separation of children and their parents. the immigrant children from their parents. and he was so outspoken about this. i have a little interview that i did with him right there outside the capitol, this is back in 2018. where he said, you know, it was his hope that the president would use his powers and his pen to end this separation policy. that he really felt that it was the president's responsibility, that he was using, what in his own words, he dead, don, that he was using these babies, these

children, as a political weapon. and he said to me, we don't need walls, we need bridges. and he spoke out so strongly against that. and he was just such a relevant force, just in the years. just in the past years, being on the hill, speaking against the kind of immoral policies that we had seen, regarding immigrant children. and regarding so many of the things that have really vilified so many different groups of people. that was something that he stood up for. and he talked as recently as just months ago about the killing of george floyd. and how he was so proud of the people who demonstrated in atlanta for the peaceful protests, the children, the young men and women, who went out there. and he said that they were prepared to get out there and say enough and renounce.

in that sense -- >> we have what you just mentioned. i want to play it for our viewers to be able to hear it. let's listen. >> sure. >> the way this young man died d watching the video, it made me so sad. it was so painful, it made me cry. i kept saying to myself, how many more. how many more young black men will be murdered, that the madness must stop. it was very moving, very moving, to see hundreds of thousands of people from all over america and around the world take to the streets, to speak out, to speak

out. to get in what i call good trouble, but to get in the way. and because of the action of young and old, black, white, latino, asian america and native america, because people cried and prayed, people will never, ever forget what happened and how it happened. it is my hope that we are on our way to better change. to respect the dignity and worth of every human being. and it doesn't matter their color or their background, or whether they're male or female. gay or straight. there comes that point where we want people, we want family, we all live in the same house.

not just the american house. but the world house. >> an icon, a giant in the history of civil rights and beyond. john lewis, dead at the age of 80. we're back right after this. this year, the alzheimer's association walk to end alzheimer's is everywhere. on every sidewalk, track, and trail across this country. all of us are raising funds for one goal: a world without alzheimer's and all other dementia. because this disease isn't waiting, neither are you. take the first step on your walk right now. go to alz dot org slash walk.

robinwithout the commission fees. so, you can start investing today wherever you are - even hanging with your dog. so, what are you waiting for? download now and get your first stock on us. robinhood. 49i found you! good job. now i'm gonna stay here and you go hide. watch your favorites from anywhere in the house with the xfinity stream app. free with your xfinity service. now any room can be a tv room. stream live tv, on demand shows and movies even your dvr recordings. download the xfinity stream app today to stream the entertainment you love. xfinity. the future of awesome.

tonight, the death of congressman john lewis at the age of 80. and i want to read a statement that's in from the family tonight. the statement reads, it is with inconsolable grief and enduring sadness that we announce the passing of u.s. representative john lewis. he was honored and respects as

the conscience of the u.s. congress and an icon of american history. but we knew him as a loving father and brother. he was a stalwart champion in the ongoing struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being. he dedicated his entire life to nonviolent activism and was an outspoken advocate in the struggle for equal justice in america. he will be deeply missed. indeed he will. congressman cedric richman joins me from my state of louisiana. congressman, thank you very much. how are you doing? >> i'm doing fine. i mean, it's a challenging moment. he was more than just a mentor and a colleague. i mean, he was somebody who i read about in textbook as an american hero. made it a more perfect human, taking a beating so i could

learn how to live. so i could learn how many bubbles in a bar of soap. how many jelly beans in -- >> jar. >> -- yajar. to learn from him, john was just one of those people who took you under his wing. he loved everybody. it's just a difficult moment. and even though we knew it was coming, it doesn't make is it any easier because he was just that guy. i mean, little cedric did a school report on john lewis. for kinter gatcountr kindergartd into him at the capitol. and cedric recited it for him. next thing we know, john sent him the "time" magazine cover. he was just that guy.

he didn't care about politics. he didn't care about fame, fortune, he cared about making a difference. he lived a purpose-driven life. it's going to be a heart that's hard to fill. >> you talked about meeting him, listen i got the chance to meet him but i didn't get the chance to work alongside him. did you ever thing in a million years think that you'd be working with john lewis? >> no, don. there were many times that i had to pinch myself just realize where i was and how i was doing and how important it was. and i'll tell you this story because i think it's so relevant today in the black lives matter movement. but we were on our way to the black caucus. we were on our way to the preview of the king memorial. and reverend jesse jackson

hitched a ride with us. he wanted to go. so it was funny, me on the back of the bus with reverend jackson, jim clyburn and other black leaders. my first was why are we on the back of the bus? it was by choice. and then the second one was to hear john lewis talk about one of the meeting with lyndon johnson. and they were talking about the voting rights and liyndon johnsn was like, look, i just can't do it. i need you call to do it. so that was john lewis. i heard suzanne talk about his original text of the march in washington. i want you to know, i want everybody to go google his

original text, compared to the text that he actually delivered. his original text had language like if we don't get what we want, we'll march through the south like sherman. so john was the activist of his time. and the youngest speaker on the march in washington, by far, probably the most militant speaker on the march on washington. but the other story i'll just tell you, john tells a story about him always wanting to be a preacher. he used to preach to the chickens in his yard. that was vintage john lewis. i was sitting there like, man, what did you do? he was like, i didn't have anybody else to preach to so i would preach to the chickens, maybe jim clyburn and the others have that story, but it was hard to keep a straight face during that. >> there's so many good things i want to play of him. let's listen now of him at the march on washington, then we'll

talk. >> we must not be patient. we do not want our freedom gradually. we want to be free now. we are tired, we're tired of being beaten by policemen. we're tired of seeing our people locked up in jail and jail over again. and told to be patient. how long can we be patient? we want our freedom and we want it now. we do not put anyone in jail, but we will go with the jail with the persistence of pride we must take along through peace. >> there you go. you said he was the protester's

protester, is that how you described him? >> he was the militant activist of his day. and just because he was mild-mannered, i don't want anybody to think that was equivalent to passive. john was, you know, he was aggressive. and i just employ anybody, and everybody, to go read that original text. but what he also was, was pragmatic. and he deferred to a. philip randolph. when i talked to him, he said he changed his speech because of his respect for a. philip randolph and the movement. and he didn't want to be the story at the end of the day. so, he changed his speech for that reason. and that was john lewis. it wasn't about him. it was about purpose. it was about the cause. and so he always exhibited that

my entire 9 1/2 years in congress so far. >> it's interesting, i was just talking to bakari and moments ago, we were talking about the people we lost. you know, when he's giving that speech at the march on washington, you see byard behind him. he's gone. obviously, dr. king is gone. speaking of dr. king, i need to get to his daughter, i'm going to let you go, cedric. thank you very much. i appreciate you talking to us this evening. and we'll see you soon. >> absolutely. >> he will be missed in the congress. absolutely. bernice king is here. how are you do bernice? thank you so much for joining us, we really appreciate it. sad night. >> it is very sad. and i have a very heavy heart as so many people do on this day. hello? >> yes, we can hear you,

bernice. >> okay. this morning, c.t. vivian. >> yes. >> tonight, congressman john lewis who my family affectionately call s uncle joh. as i think about it, i think it's sending a very loud message to this nation that we've got to get it right. the voting rights act. and with voting in general, you know, my hope and prayer is that this will send a signal to congress that it's time to restore the voting rights act. these two men literally sacrificed their lives for preserving voting rights. and both of them be on the head of selma, alabama, one of the steps of the courthouse of

sheriff clark and the other tend of the pettus bridge. it's a time to get it right. and those who have been cynical about voting in this nation to really understand that people sacrificed, suffered and died. many people died. some people died but these gentlemen, some of them sacrifice third very lives. almost lost their lives for the right to vote. it's citizens right. it's a right we should exercise with dignity. and we must fight voter suppression. and, you know, once and for all, you know, do away with it. but, don, you know, john lewis was one of very few people who really remained consistent and

true to my father's nonviolence methodology. he was a true nonviolent warrior through and through. and a very pure heart. there are very few pure-hearted people in this world. and he was a pure-hearted man. you know, his only motive was to stand up for what was right. to speak for those who could not speak for themselves. it was never about him, it was always about the struggle, cause and justice and freedom. and, you know, we lost these kind of leaders. >> yes. bernice, listen, considering who you are, who your father was, i think it's appropriate to play this moment and get your reaction. this is john lewis getting the presidential medal of freedom from our first black president. february 15th, 2011. let's play it. >> all of these years later he

was known as the conscience of the united states congress. still speaking his mind on issues of justice and equality. generations from now, when parents teach their children what is meant by courage, the story of john lewis will come to mind. an american who knew that change could not wait for some other person or some other time. whose life is lessened in the fierce urgency of now. >> that moment, bernice, gave me chills. and that not only meant, i'm sure, a whole heck of a lot to john lewis, but it meant a lot to the world to see this in a way, a passing of the torch. and then passing it back. you know what i mean? >> yeah. i know exactly what you mean. and often, when i am talking around this nation and the world, and i speak about one of my father's principles of nonviolence that we teach at the

king center, unconcerned suffering is redifferenempredem. i always talk about john lewis and what happened on that bridge. he didn't even know, or imagine that one day he would serve in congress, first of all, when he was fighting for that right. and not only serving under the first african-american president and serving under him for two terms, that's what you call unearned suffering being redemptive, and he epitomized it. >> bernice, bernice, thank you so much. it means so much that you called in. to share your thoughts on this, my thoughts are with your family as well, i know he's a very good friend of your family. you call him uncle john. you take care of yourself. be safe, hopefully, i can see

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the nation mourning the death of congressman john lewis at the age of 80. a giant in the civil rights movement who by his own account was arrested more than 40 times during this days of activism. he was born the son of sharecroppers and went on to serve more than 30 years in congress. he passed today after a six-month battle with cancer. i want to bring in dana bash and april ryan. but first, dana bash had an extraordinary interview with john lewis on the edmund pettus bridge on the 55th anniversary of selma. let's listen in. ♪ ♪ in the party ♪ >> this is sacred. this is hallowed. this is where people gave some blood. i gave a little blood on this bridge. >> 53 years after you all marched on this bridge, why is it so important to come back. and to keep coming back every year? >> this is the place that gave

us the voting rights act. made it possible for hundreds and thousands and millions of people to be able to participate in the democratic president. >> you read a movement of the young people back in the civil rights movement. there's a new organic movement of young people in washington begging people in washington for change. what do you see of the new movement? >> i see so much. >> it was march 7th, 1965, that john lewis marched across this bridge on bloody sunday. he got to the other side and he was met by a billy club. but every year, almost every year since, he's been walking across bringing people from all fronts, all parties, all races and religions to come here and experience this with him. he's got a republican leader on

his left, kacathy mcmorris rodgers, he's got a democrat on his right. >> all: jothank you, john lewis. >> it takes a john lewis to bring us all together. just a reminder that progress is elusive. every generation has to fight for it. >> compromise is the hallmark of america. >> it is. >> that's how we became a country and we somehow lost the ability to do that in certain issues. it's an inspiration to come from from here, into washington, and say, okay, let's try again because it may take several times before we get the compromise. >> for young people who are just learning about your dad and what will he led, what is the most important thing for them to takeaway? >> you know, i think the most important thing is to understand the concept of nonviolence.

many are very, very proud of the young people in parkman who are leading, not following, for something to happen. >> this leading several rights pilgrimage not only crossed party lines, it crossed generations. teenagers came on this journey. charlotte post was one of them. >> how do we wrestle with our parents in a way that's respectful so we can aid them in seeing that normal children can fight for justice as well? >> tell them that you've been touched by the spirit of history. >> as someone who successfully a movement as a young person, what's your number one bit of advice for the young people protesting and marching this month? >> just give it all you got. and not get weary. be hopeful. be optimistic. and take the long hard look. we had some difficulty.

they will have some difficulty. they will have some setbacks, but you cannot give up. you cannot give in. you will make it. they will lead us. >> john lewis there with our dana bash. you see, april, there, dana by phone. dana, what a special interview. that was two years ago, for the march across the edmund pettus bridge. that interview was just during the time that the parkland children, i should say, students, rather, were marching. and he was iconic for them. >> absolutely. and that's one of the, you know, countless things that just so remarkable about john lewis, don. and that is that he truly was a living legend. that's a term that's kind of thrown around, but it defined him and explained whole he was.

more than anybody i can even think of. you heard congressman richmond talking about the fact that his son read about him in the history books but got to meet him. my son's third grade class, as soon as they heard he was sick, they, as a class, wrote him letters. because everybody knew who he was. because he touched them. and you saw this in this pilgrimage, that he did, you know, scores of times, in attempt to bring people together as you're seeing in the pictures right now on the screen, but he really wanted to continue to reach out to young people for them to understand not just what he went through, but to emulate that. and the fact that he got to witness the black lives matter movement, the revolution, and got to participate in it, go down to that area, here in washington, d.c., where i am is remarkable. one other quick thing i just want to note, i've been going

back and looking at the transcripts from my discussion with him during that three-day pilgrimage, the other thing about john lewis was, he was very big on forgiveness. pretty amazing given the fact that he wasn't through so much. that he almost got beat to death on that bridge in selma. that he forgave george wallace, the governor who ordered the people to club his skull with a billy club. he told the story to me in that trip about the fact that he was beaten bloody by the kkk -- >> for day's end -- >> right. exactly. came to his office, as a congressman, they said, please, please accept -- we want your forgiveness. yes, i will forgive you. >> dana, i remember i interviewed both of them back in 2009 at cnn. they have become friendly. i have a short time left, i want

to standby. i want to get to april. april, you worked at the white house. you had many encounters with john lewis. before we go, you can give us your thoughts? >> since about 9:00 this evening, i've had tears in my eyes, as a human being, as a black person who realizes she would not be who she is had it not been for john lewis and martin luther king jr. i thought about what congressman cedric richmond said and bernice king said he was about peace. we talked about nonviolence. we talked and he said, when you talk, you go about it nonviolently. we laughed. that's who he was. he wanted to us to move the ball forward but to keep the nonviolence. he wants to intrinsically implore on us that's what would get us to the next level.

i think about my intimate times i had with him writing my book "at mama's knee" when he discussed that he was called the boy from troy from dr. martin luther king jr., when he wanted to go to troy state, he would have been the first black person to be a student at troy state. and dr. king let him and his family know, we can get you there, but there's a cost. you lose your 100 acres of land, your house. but he chose not to go and stay with his family and he kept on marching. his mother didn't want him to march. he marched for faith. >> april, our time is short. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> thank you very much, dana bash. i'm just going to leave you with the words from congressman's john lewis' family, it says he was a stalwart champion in the ongoing struggle to demand the respect of every human being. he dedicated his life to

nonviolent activist and was a spokesperson for justice in america. he will be deeply missed. perfect words to leave you on. john lewis, dead at the age of 80. congressman john lewis a giant in the history in the civil rights movement has died at the age of 80. >> he always believed in the power of love and not hate in his legacy would grow, and grow and grow. >> he didn't care about himself. he didn't care about politics or fame or fortune. he cared about making a difference. so he lived a purpose-driven life. >> we must never ever give up. we must be brave and