are going to continue our conversation ofut the life and times congressmen and civil rights leader, john lewis, who died on friday at age 80. we want to know what you think about john lewis's contributions to american society. if you're from the eastern and central time zone we want to hear from you at (202) 748-8000. if you're from the mountain and pacific time zones we want to hear from you at (202) 748-8001. and you can always text us your thoughts about john lewis at (202) 748-8003. on we are always reading social media on twitter and facebook. once again, congressman john lewis will always be remembered for his work on the civil rights movement, and his marches through the south, including selma, alabama. but some of the other things

john lewis -- people may not know that he is responsible for -- john lewis was one of the major pushers who achieved the construction of the smithsonian national museum of african-american history and culture. from the smithsonian archives, i'm going to read a little to you from what the smithsonian says john lewis did to get that museum up. 1998, new bills were introduced annually in congress by representative john lewis to create a national african-american heritage museum and memorial within the smithsonian institution. 1991, a smithsonian blue-ribbon commission recommended the creation of a national museum devoted to african-americans to clutch their -- to collect, analyze, research, and organize exhibitions on a scale and definition that matched the major museums devoted to other aspects of american life.

thecommission recommended museum be temporarily located in the arts and industrials -- industries building until a new, larger facility could be built, but the legislation stalled amid androversy about funding appropriateness of the site. in 2001, a new bipartisan coalition of represent of john lewis, cj watts jr., and senators sam brownback and max cleveland renewed efforts. renewed questions about funding projectibility of the was passed into public law on december 28, 2001. which established the plan for action to develop a feasible plan to move forward with the museum. the museum opened on the national mall, and representative john lewis was one of the speakers who was there that morning to open up

this new museum. here's what he said. >> a great achievement. i tell you. the mahaliasinging jackson song from the march on washington over 50 years ago. how we got over. how we got over. there were some who said it could not happen. who said you can't do it. but we did. and we did it. today -- [inaudible] [indiscernible] our: let's get back to phone lines. we will get back to those comments. let's see what you have to say about representative john lewis and his life and times. from oxford,g pennsylvania. good morning. caller: good morning, thank you

for c-span. especially you, you do a good job. if you give me a chance i would like to read a thought. free at last, free at last, thank god he is free at last. thank you mr. lewis for being the conscious of the congress of america. being a man of moral goodness and character, being a constant fighter for justice and freedom for all people, in a world in which wright has become wrong and wrong has become right, mr. lewis never lost sight of what is right. he was a spokesman and voice for the american people which seems to never be heard in washington. his fate is finished, but for the people he left behind that care for what he has cared about , the fight continues. may god bless you and rest in peace mr. lewis. you are an american icon. god bless you. god bless this show.

this is the people's --, thank you. host: let's go to danny, in silver spring, maryland. caller: when i think of john lewis i think of a brave man. ,e was principled, intelligent and he was really peaceful. when he walked across that ridge, he knew he was going to get hurt. he knew he was walking into a war zone. that's when real systematic blmsm --, compare that to today. they are unrighteous, they are wicked, they are liars and they are racist. they pale in comparison to john lewis. they cannot light a candle to john lewis. he was the real deal. thank you. host: let's go to robert in washer -- in worchester,

massachusetts. caller: it's pronounced was to -- worcesters. we talk about plenty sunday you have to think of john moses and john lewis. dr. king told john lewis, do not go over that bridge that day. they argued about what day they are going to march. over that marched bridge and dr. king told him do not do it. it was bloody sunday. i will never forget when i came home from church as a kid and i saw all that violence. but john lewis went across that bridge, knowing that. he was going to do what he was going to do. dr. king was not on the bridge that day, on bloody sunday. dr. king was not on that bridge.

he told them children do not go over that bridge. and john lewis took them anyway. i will never forget that, bloody sunday on the bridge. you understand what i'm trying to tell you? bob moses and john lewis? great characters. but dr. king told john lewis don't go over that bridge. thank you. have a statement coming from former president bill clinton and former secretary of state hillary clinton on john lewis's passing. we have lost a giant, john lewis gave us all he had to redeem america's unmet promise of equality and justice for all. and to create a place for us to build a more perfect union. , to a small farm in alabama life risking service in the civil rights movement, to three

decades in congress. he was always walking with the wind, steered by a moral compass that told him went to make good trouble and when to heal to troubledwaters -- heal waters. always true to his word, his faith, and his principles, john lewis became the conscious of the nation. we are talking about john lewis. we have regional lines open, if you're in the central and eastern time zone you are at (202) 748-8000. if you are in the mountain and pacific time zone you are at (202) 748-8001. you, let'shear from go to washington, d.c.. nyzeobe.

say my name.u i actually miss john lewis outside of the capital. had a coat under his arm when i met him, i said i know you, it was very cold and i was very happy to have met him. [indiscernible] i want to testify that i was not with him when he was fighting but i followed him, he's a person we should all respect. alwaysoung people to

read the history of our civil rights fighters, and the people fighting for economic equality. greg, from go to youngster in, ohio. caller: good morning. my comment is, today is inredibly sad day -- and cuddly sad day for the united states of america. i find myself really sad to see the passing of a true giant, a man who dedicated his entire life to equality and justice. he never gave up that fight. even right to the end, even with his last breath, i'm sure. that was the primary goal to his life and it never ended. probably died, i hope i'm wrong, i feel that he probably died a sad amend -- a sad man. what a steak it must have driven

through his heart to see an undeniable white supremacist elected president of the united states. i don't see a counterargument to that. his entirewho spent life trying to unite people behind justice, when he closes his eyes for the last time he realizes that the leader of his country is someone who is dedicated to exactly the opposite,exactly the dividing us, driving a stake between us, calling any organization that seeks justice for black people terrorists. it's a sad day for me. it's a sad day for the united states. through that sadness we have to realize that we have lost a times when man in there is a dearth of greatness in this country. god bless you john lewis.

to talk aboutoing last publiclewis's appearances, that was here in washington dizzy -- washington, d.c.. stop inan early morning washington at 16th street to take in new mural authorized by mayor murial bowser. a reporter for the local fox affiliate caught his reaction to the two block long art piece which includes the phrase black lives matter. impressiveoving, lewis said. i think the people in d.c. and around the nation are sending a strong message to the rest of the world that we will get there. pictures were posted of lewis touring the area and greeting onlookers. is considered one of

the last civil rights movement leaders. the atlantic democratic opinion was sought when protest erected over police brutality and systematic racism. the piece was commissioned blocks away from the white house and she renamed this portion of the road black lives matter plaza. we are talking about the life and times of representative john lewis. we will bring you some reaction from some of the lawmakers who served with john lewis. the first tweet is from senator kelly loeffler, what she said. the passing of john lewis is a tremendous loss for america, few tenacity,e his great, or courage. georgia and our entire nation are better because of his leadership and courage. may god comfort his loved ones during this difficult time. we will look at a couple more.

this comes from david purdue, let me pull that up. perdue, let me pull that up. we will come back to that. let's go back to our phone line, evelyn is calling from chicago, illinois. caller: good morning. i would like to say that i'm so sorry john lewis has passed. the lover ofeacher history, i want to remind everyone, especially the children, this struggle for freedom is a protected -- protracted struggle. it has gone back. and history you always see people people trying to take over and disenfranchise other .eople it's a protracted struggle and the struggle must continue. the young people have to fight

for their freedom or they will not have any freedom. that is my comment and i'm so sorry about john lewis. bye-bye. host: roy is calling from little rock, arkansas. caller: i appreciate you letting me come on. i've been trying to get on the line and i can't always. we will miss brother lewis. i'm close to his age. i know the fight will continue. was a good man and he fought for america, for the freedom of the little man. that's all i have to say. i love him and we are going to miss him. i watched him all his life it's like losing a good friend. thank you. stay safe. keep doing what you're doing. that let's go back to tweet from senator david purdue -- perdue.

he writes nobody embodied john inspired, many americans to fight injustice and reject the status quo. without a doubt, his wisdom and resolve made the world a better place. we will bring you more tweets. we want to know what you are the life andt with times of john lewis. jeanette is calling from washington, d.c.. good morning. caller: good morning. struck byo say, i was seeing the images from the 60's -- the 1960's and the civil rights movement. i was born after that, but seeing these black-and-white images, seeing people brutalized by the police, dogs and hoses. it is so striking that today we have people that are willing to have police come into oregon and

kidnap people off the streets. i feel like years from now we are going to see these images of how donald trump is brutalizing people who are fighting for their rights and we will say to ourselves how can that ever happen? when we see these images from the 1960's it's very how can that happen to human beings? how could we do that? god bless john lewis. he is crossing the bridge again but going all this time. q. -- thank you. host: we are already seeing --ctions in washington cc and washington, d.c.. we just got this tweet in from speaker pelosi, who has ordered the flags at the u.s. capitol to be flown at half staff, due to the passing of congressman john lewis. continue to get reaction from lawmakers around the united

states, here in washington and in georgia. let's go back to our foe bloods and talk to curtis. from brookfield, missouri. good morning. caller: good morning. i wanted to call in in respect to john lewis. .hese are big hero i'm 72 years old. i saw him when he was going knows that bridge i don't how he did that. battered hit, bruised, , and i think he's an exceptionally good man. i hope in my heart that the mitch mcconnell's than people of that caliber can look themselves and say that they

are as great as he is. once again we want to hear from you about the life and times of john lewis. we will bring you reaction from all around the country, including his colleagues. this comes from representative richard neal, the chair of the house ways and means committee where lewis served as the oversight subcommittee chair. >> serving -- serving alongside congressman lewis has been the owner of my life. his leadership and grace guided much of the ways and means committee's and congress is most meaningful and import work. my prayers are with john's family and loved ones during this painful time. i wish comfort to them and all who mourn the loss of this hero. we are opening up our phone lines to call in and talk about your memories or experiences or comments on the life of representative john lewis.

the lines are opening up for regions today. if you are in the eastern or central time zones our numbers are (202) 748-8000. if you're in the mountain or pacific time zones your number will be (202) 748-8001. and you can always text us at (202) 748-8003. we are always reading on social media on twitter and facebook. let's go back to the phone lines and talk to howard, from huntsville, alabama. good morning. caller: good morning. the wonderful john lewis is from alabama, as i am. can you hear me? host: you're on, go ahead. caller: i met john lewis in selma, once.

i'mought for human rights, from the state of alabama and people fromas around the world and i pray we can get more young people to do what john lewis did. peace and love. for the end of his career, john lewis was one of the voices speaking against president trump and one of the voices who spoke up for the impeachment of president trump in the house of representatives. the next-to-last appearance of john lewis on the house floor debate speech during the of the articles of impeachment against president trump. here is what he had to say. [video clip] >> speaker i rise with a heavy

heart to support this resolution. when we came to washington in 1961 to go on the freedom ride, we chose that day. 1963 forame here in the march on washington, it was joyful. we met with young president kennedy. when we came here on august 6 1965 for the signing of the voting rights act, we were excited and hopeful. we met president lyndon johnson. but this day, we did not ask for this. this is a sad day. it is not a day of joy. our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have teams. we have presidents.

and the constitution is our compass. when you see something that is not right. not just. not fair. you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. our children and their children will ask what did you do? stand?id you for some this vote may be hard, but we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history. host: we are getting comments from around the nation and here in washington about the passing of congressman john lewis. governor brian kemp tweeted this out, congressman john lewis was a civil rights hero, freedom fighter, devoted public servant and beloved georgian who changed our world in a profound way. the family is praying for his loved ones as they honor and

mourn -- the kemp family is praying for his loved ones as they honor and mourn his passing. we want to know what you think about the life and legacy of representative john lewis. we go back to the phone lines, reggie is calling from oakland, california. caller: good morning. it's unbelievable how you have to fight and struggle. mr. lewis fought and struggled his empire -- his entire life. white men don't have to fight and struggle for their rights in america. you speak about donald trump and portland. everybody talks about donald trump. castabout his supporting and everyone going along with what donald trump says and does? it's unbelievable. that's all i have. host: let's go to jerry, from

smith's jail, mississippi. good morning. , mississippi.e good morning. caller: good morning. let's bring love to john lewis. i'm a civil rights activist. if you loved what brother lewis did in his lifetime, go register and vote. brother lewist, would turn over in his grave right now, that's what he was about. voting. voting. voting. get your family, get your neighbor, get who you can, take them to the poll and vote. and q. dodd bless. -- thank you.

god bless. host: margaret, in texas, good morning. caller: good morning. i wanted to say that i'm a 92-year-old white woman who lived for 15 years in atlanta and had the wonderful pleasure of meeting this man several times. he's one of my heroes. when i was living in texas during the civil rights movement, i was going to university, in my middle years. march, the civil rights, the president said that anybody who went would be thrown out of college. but so many of us went to that march that he had to rescind that and take it back. this morning, another note, my daughter who calls me every morning to check that i'm ok,

her first words were this morning were old mother, -- "oh mother, did you hear?" she sifted nine years old and he is one of her -- she is 59 years old and he was one of her heroes. blackot only the community who honors him. john lewis fought for human rights. that's my comment. host: what college are you going to at that time? caller: north texas state , it's part of the big university system now. but it was north texas state university. host: can you tell us about your experience going to the march? caller: not really. i know that i was spat on by a

white woman, but no we just went to the march. it was a small march because it's a small town, denton, texas. the president was completely surprised that so many of us students were going to march. host: thank you margaret. let's go to pete, from washington, pennsylvania. caller: good morning. i hope you will let me make my comment. i'm a 78-year-old senior citizen, white person, my europe ints came from the early part of the 20th 1917.y, around i've seen the civil rights movement. i watched it.

great luther made progress ended a lot of great things with his peaceful marches. i would like to say one thing. when i walked down the streets exercising, i went through what was part of the black community. children threw rocks at me. nice -- nice that -- a niece that married a black man. and her father rejected her. but her grandfather accepted him and went to the wedding. andnever know about people what is in them. i believe in christian transformation and new birth. i believe people can change. when i was a child i ignorantly rhyme,ides by using that

nemo --- any meany my by using that ignorant rhyme eeny meeny miney mo. i have a lot more that i'd like to say, but i will let others speak. thank you. host: we will continue bring your reactions to the death of john lewis. here's a tweet from sanford bishop. the world is a better place because john lewis spent his life in pursuit of freedom, andice, and opportunity peace for all the many. while he is an icon in history of america for his courage and sacrifice and making good trouble, his enduring humility reflects the true timbre of his character. he inspired us is the conscious of the congress and i was blessed to call him my friend for 52 years. to say john will be missed is an

understatement. deepestand i send our condolences to his friend, family -- his friends, family, and staff and those who mourn him. phonego back to our lines. kathleen is calling from los angeles, california. caller: good morning. i am calling from los angeles. way toing to think of a .ot offend all of the callers they sound older. over 50., i'm i'm a black american. i feel that the civil rights movement has failed black america. than 9000have more politicians and black america but black america is facing zero

median wealth by the end of 2053. i know this is not a popular opinion. i know people will be put off by the common. district isis's atlanta, black americans owned less than 25% of the homes in atlanta. the data is important, not these and our feelings about how politicians, black politicians have helped black america. we must face these realities. than americans have less 75% -- we have 25% two parent families. in the early 20th century, the 1920's, the 1930's, 19 40's, we had more two-parent families than white families. these things are important. that racismbelieves

is in the dna of america, if that were true, how can you talk about the accomplishments of the civil rights era? how can you reconcile that? the difference between the accomplishments of black america and politicians like john lewis, but racism is in the dna of america. also the urban areas, the areas in which black politicians have are goingentation down. they are being devastated. there's not upward mobility. there are no fathers in the home. but we are applauding john lewis and the civil rights era as if it was such a great accomplishment. [no audio] did we lose you?

let's go to sarasota, florida. caller: good morning. it is a sad morning indeed. theuld like to address what byy prior to me -- serendipity i just finished john lewis's memoir, walking with the wind. it's like a history lesson that you can put down. one of the things john lewis recognized is that we have made progress, but we have a lot more to go. i think that's an important message. i'm an 87-year-old white person. john is one of my heroes, but please, everyone, read his memoir. 1996 and talk in about deja vu.

we are experiencing those going on in his lifetime. but like he said, don't give up. don't give in. never lose hope. god bless him. if anyone is in heaven, it is he . thank you. host: we are bringing reaction from around the nation and here in washington, d.c. with the passing of representative john lewis. we have a tweet from kelly o'donnell, the flags have been lowered at the u.s. capitol and we got this tweet in. a short time ago, the flag at the white house was lowered. we will begin -- continue to bring you comments from john inis's colleagues here washington and around the nation. this is from house majority whip james clyburn of south carolina. he put out this news release about his friend, john lewis.

last night when i was informed of the death of my longtime friend john lewis, i sat alone, thinking about what john meant to this country, this movement, and to me as a person. hero, they lost a movement lost an icon, and i lost a friend. john and i met back in october 1960. we were in atlanta for an organizing meeting of what became known as the student nonviolent coordinating committee. sncc. that we can was transformative to me, john and i enjoyed all most 60 years of friendship. we never thought back then we would be successful enough in the movement to both end up serving in congress. yet for almost 27 years we did it. when i became majority whip, i often talk about how simple it was to whip john lewis true you always knew exactly how he was going to vote. doesn't mean you would always become triple with his vote, you knew he would -- how he would vote.

of those people who internalized nonviolence. many of us practiced it, but he lived it. i would never go to john to second or nominate me. i always ask for his support but never asked him to second my nomination because i never wanted him to be put in a position of not being able to say he was for everybody, because he was. he was that person. we are going to miss that person , john lewis will forever be in our heart, mind, and our souls. that's from jim clyburn of south carolina about the death of congressman john lewis. we will go back to our phone lines. from pinehurst, north carolina. good morning. caller: good morning. i had the pleasure of meeting and talking with john lewis seven years ago in the atlanta airport. it was a terrific pleasure. i want to thank you for

celebrating his life this morning. , fromlet's go to willie sarasota, florida. good morning. show.: thank you for your , a a 63-year-old black male minister at present. mr. lewis, martin luther king, a lot of the others, happened because of unity. we need a leader today, and we lost a leader. i want people to understand the fight is not over. it will never be over. that's all i have to say. thank you for letting me talk about this man today. host: mary is calling from athens, georgia. good morning. caller: good day. i'm calling to remind the young lady that was talking about john

lewis and doing things for us. awarergot, or was not coming from california, that in 1960's,during the talking about men not being in the home. if you needed help and your working, welfare did not allow for the husband or boyfriend to be at home. today, your husband and boyfriend cannot live with you in houses. to take the male out of the home is a systematic thing that causes deterioration in the black community. i had my daughter when i was 15 years old. i went to work when she was two weeks old and i worked two jobs. i made three dollars a day on one job. all day long mind you, and the other job in the evening from

4:00 to midnight i was making four dollars a day. when my baby got sick, somebody they can help you take the child to the doctor. but the woman from the organization came out and had to search every nook and cranny of my home to determine whether or not a man lived there. our homes have been disrupted many times. we have not been able to have our husbands or support in our houses. i was living alone, but the department that the has to come into your home and search under the bed and in the closets and no piece of gum that could be iny male your house for you to receive help. this is happening even today.

i was shocked, i did not know was going on. do not blame black men, don't blame black women. blame the system that is continuing to continue to keep us in slavery. financial bondage. humiliation. degradation. those things are going on for the lady in california who may not have experienced this. i'm 70 years old and i experienced this and i still see it going on. you punish people because they and in thea job, criminal justice system when someone goes to jail and pays their just due retribution to and the clerk of the courts do not give a disposition to the crime department. when they check your references they say you still have a criminal background. you still have to go to court when you have paid your due debt.

but they did not document the disposition of record. so we have to will have people walking around who deserve a job able to work but can't work because misinformation has been reported. you see young black man standing on corners and you want to complain that they cannot get a job because their records were not cleaned. host: michael is calling from new york city. good morning. caller: good morning. i'm very glad that some of the people are calling you up appreciating the efforts of the man. , there could be some outdated thought with the civil rights movement. it could be racism where you think anyone with blonde hair and blue eyes is david duke. host: i think we lost michael. to theore reactions

death of congressman john lewis. this comes from the present of betty carter -- representative betty carter who says there are some people in life they feel honored to meet and john lewis is one of those people. he will always be an icon, i will be forever grateful that i was able to call him a friend. his wisdom, spirit, and friendship will be deeply missed . john was a giant among men, who fiercely dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice for all. he fought this fight until the very end and our nation is a better place because of him. if we can get a comment from represented hank johnson. -- representative hank johnson. i apologize. that was hank johnson. we are talking about the life and times of represented of john

lewis, we have been getting comments from around the country. we have seen flags at the u.s. capitol and the white house flying at half mast as we continue to celebrate and talk about the life of represented of john lewis. let's take a look at a few comments from our social media followers before we end the show. here's a tweet that says we are commanded to love our enemies, john lewis showed us how. we want to make sure we get all of our comments in, we have a couple of minutes if you want to get on the phone to talk about john lewis. ralph is calling from rockland, maine. good morning. caller: good morning. or martin. lewis luther king we would not be where we are today. we definitely lost an icon, it's up to us and future generations

to keep hope alive and he will be missed. thank you. once again we have been talking about they life and times of congressman john lewis. we are looking at statements coming in from around the nation about john lewis and his life and times. let's bring in a few comments before the end of the show. dorothy is calling from brooklyn, new york. caller: good morning. i'm so happy to be able to share this morning. old, because of john lewis, and learning about him, i have been able to be consistent and trying to duplicate at least one or two of the things he stood for. god be his glory, i'm so happy to of this gentleman. thank you. from ronnie is calling

asheboro, north carolina. caller: good morning, thank you for this opportunity. it's a pleasure. i did meet congressman lewis back in 1990 from programs he helped initiate with the movement back in the 60's. he was warm, he was gentle to me and he gave me encouragement to stay where i was, as an advocate for families and children across america. thank you and god bless his family. from one less reaction of representative lewis's colleagues. this is from representative lucy mcbath, whether marching in selma, fighting for freedom were battling cancer, john put service to his community above all else. that was his dedication to atlanta, to georgia, and our nation. i will never forget the kindness and wisdom he showed me, this

nation, and our world. we must also challenge the world with good and necessary trouble. you fought a good fight. rusted peace. 1 -- rest in peace. mary is calling from virginia beach, virginia. caller: thank you. i'm so happy to honor him. he's one of the best. i'm so sorry we had to lose him and this time when we need him. it's remarkable that george wallace's daughter and he became wonderful friends. thank allould like to of our viewers, guests, and callers who called in.