♪ good morning to you, and welcome to "cbs this morning." it's thursday, july 30th, 2020. i'm gayle king with anthony mason. tony dokoupil is off. our national correspondent jericka duncan is with us. alarming surge. the number of americans killed by the coronavirus rises to its highest daily total since mid-may. plus concerns on capitol hill after a high-profile congressman closely allied with the president tests positive. >> hard lessons. more schools delay reopening to keep students and teachers safe. hear from parents struggling with the new normal and worried their kids may be falling behind. >> landmark mission to mars. we take you inside an historic

new effort to learn once and for all if there was ever life on the red planet. >> and final farewell. congressman john lewis will be laid to rest in atlanta today in a ceremony attended by three former presidents. hear lewis' final message to america in a new essay released this morning. >> it's powerful. but first, here's today's "eye opener." it's your world in 90 seconds. this is the fastest a vaccine has ever been developed. together we will end the plague from china. we will defeat the virus. >> the national death toll from the coronavirus has now passed 150,000. >> the president has also retweeted a tweet which said that you are misleading the american public. >> no, categorically, i have not misled the american public. >> congressman louie gohmert tested positive for covid-19 and he had contact with william barr without his mask. >> i might have put some of the virus onto the mask and breathed

it in. >> big tech giants testified on capitol hill on a heated hearing about whether they have too much power. >> big tech is out to get conservatives. >> a train traveling through arizona derailed and sparked a massive fire causing a bridge to collapse. >> all of a sudden, i heard snap, snap, crack, sounded like it was coming off the track. >> ruth bader ginsburg is hospitalized again. she underwent a liver procedure. >> all that -- >> high drive to right out of here. this game is over! >> and all that matters. >> record number of black actors are celebrating emmy nominations this year. 34% of the slots went to black actors. the highest number ever. >> we want every role to be played by a black actor. i won't be happy until kevin hart is playing queen elizabeth in "the crown." >> on "cbs this morning." >> the titan of the civil rights movement, the beloved georgian,

an american hero and a friend to all who sought a better, fairer, more united society. >> the body of congressman john lewis is now in his home district in georgia for a final good-bye. >> oh, let america be america again, the land that never has been yet, and yet must be the land where every man is free. >> this morning's "eye opener" is presented by toyota. >> welcome to "cbs this morning." beloved is the word as you guys both know. memorial services began for john lewis last saturday in his hometown of troy, alabama. but today he will be laid to rest in alabama. you are looking at pictures from the ebenezer baptist church. we'll have more on that service in just a second. we begin with the coronavirus story and the numbers are so disturbing. it's alarming new evidence of the rising toll of the coronavirus and a warning about the possible dangers ahead as

schools are set to reopen. the number of americans who have died from the virus has now surpassed 150,000. over the past month, the deaths have risen at a steady rate. the u.s. reported more than 1400 deaths yesterday and that's the most since may 15th. that translates to nearly one person a minute. anthony? >> these troubling numbers, gayle, come as local school officials make decisions about how and when to return. dr. anthony fauci said its studies yesterday that children over 9 years old can transmit the virus just like adults. our lead national correspondent david begnaud is in miami. david, what are we seeing there now? >> well, miami-dade public schools said they're not even going to talk about going back to in-person classes until october. so for the start of the school year, they will do online only. florida remains a red-hot hot spot when it comes to coronavirus.

and just yesterday, the state of florida set another record for the number of deaths reported in 24 hours. california, texas and florida recorded single day highs for new coronavirus deaths. and so did north carolina. vice president mike pence visited that state wednesday with education secretary betsy devos. they were there to talk about reopening the nation's schools. >> you know, there's not a national superintendent, nor should there be. therefore, there's not a national plan for reopening. >> reporter: so with no national plan, local leaders in viral epicenters like miami, phoenix, los angeles and houston, are planning to delay in-person learning until later this year. other large school districts in philadelphia, kansas city and indianapolis are looking at similar changes. but some parents say distance learning is just too challenging. sydnee burrus is a single mom balancing work and at-home

teaching. these worried about her daughter falling behind. >> do i need to outsource other educational opportunities to make sure my child is learning? >> reporter: returning to in-person schooling would impact teachers and school staff as well. listen to what dr. anthony fauci told the president of the nation's largest teachers union. >> you're going to be actually part of the experiment of the learning curve of what we need to know. we don't have the total database of knowing what there is to expect. >> reporter: even as cases appear to be plateauing nationally, the white house coronavirus task force is reportedly urging 21 states to limit gatherings and some indoor activities. and those who survive covid, like greg garfield, are pleading with people to listen to the experts. >> probably the healthiest person you ever met. i had no pre-existing conditions. i ski 70 to 100 days a year. >> how sick were you?

>> i had sepsis, merca, a collapsed lung, i was on my death bed. >> garfield was one of the first coronavirus patients in california. the 54-year-old was on a ventilator for 31 days and hospitalized for more than 60. loss of blood pressure caused him to lose several fingers. doctors gave him a 1% chance of survival. >> my neurologist came into my room and said to me, you're a miracle. medically speaking, you should not have been here. >> what's your message to everyone watching? >> this is for real. this virus is no joke. >> reporter: what an incredible story he has. his kidneys were starting to fail. his liver starting to fail. now he says he's practically back to 100%. listen, back in the state of florida, they are closing all of their testing sites that are state run as of today at 5:00 p.m. why? because there is a tropical storm. isaias is headed this way, expected to potentially impact

florida this weekend so the testing sites will remain closed through tuesday. jericka? >> wow, another major concern for people down there. thank you. speaker nancy pelosi is making masks mandatory on the house floor after yet another congressman tested positive for the coronavirus. texas republican louie gohmert who has been adamantly opposed to wearing a mask is a close ally of president trump. in fact, he was about to travel with the president when he tested positive. paula reid reports from the white house. >> together we will end the plague from china. we will defeat the virus. >> reporter: speaking in west texas, president trump made no mention of the texas representative who was expected to be with him just before republican representative louie goemert was supposed to travel on air force one with the president, he tested positive for covid-19. politico reports after the announcement, a gohmert staffer contacted them saying the congressman requires a full

staff in the office and they are berated for wearing masks. gohmert has often been seen not wearing a face covering. wednesday, gohmert made the unsubstantiated suggestion his illness may have been caused by the few occasions he did wear a mask. >> i know moving the mask around, getting it just right, i'm bound to put some virus on the mask that i sucked in. that's most likely what happened. >> reporter: there's no evidence to support that claim. medical experts say wearing masks helps stop the spread of the virus. on tuesday, gohmert was seen walking alongside attorney general bill barr. neither man was wearing a mask. the attorney general has so far tested negative. gohmert's diagnosis caused nancy pelosi to issue a mask mandate for the house. >> as a sign of respect for the health, safety and well-being of others. >> reporter: but mitch mcconnell does not intend to do the same for the senate. >> it appears not to be

necessary since everybody seems to be doing it. >> reporter: congress also remains divided on a second round of economic relief, even as enhanced unemployment benefits are set to expire friday. >> i would say there's not an agreement on anything. >> reporter: republicans have floated the idea of a narrow, short-term negotiated deal, but house speaker nancy pelosi has rejected that. she said that republicans put them up against the wall by refusing to negotiate for two months. but in a peace offering of sorts, the white house has offered congress additional testing capability now that over a dozen lawmakers have contracted the virus. anthony? >> paula reid, thanks. supreme court justice ruth baden ginsburg is said to be resting comfortably in a new york city hospital this morning. the 87-year-old associate justice had a nonsurgical procedure on a stent she received last year. the supreme court statement says doctors call it a common procedure to reduce the risk of

infection. earlier this month, ginsburg said she was receiving chemotherapy because her cancer had returned. it's expected she will be released from the hospital by the end of the week. for the first time ever, four of the most powerful tech ceos testified together before congress. mark zuckerberg, sundar pichai and mark bezos were told they have too much power and stifle competition. nancy cordes has more. >> we do not retaliate or bully people. strongly against our company culture. >> reporter: appearing remotely, the titans who lead google, facebook, apple and amazon insisted they do not crush their competition. >> that is not how we operate the business. >> reporter: lawmakers didn't buy it. >> the platforms have wielded their power in destructive, harmful ways in order to expand. >> reporter: the four companies combined are worth about $5 trillion drawing antitrust

probes here and abroad. amazon alone controls about 40% of u.s. e-commerce. >> amazon is the only game in town. >> but i completely disagree with that characterization. >> reporter: amazon's ceo jeff bezos, the world's richest man, was testifying before congress for the first time. he was pressed on a "wall street journal" report that amazon employees use third party sellers' data to develop their own competing products. >> do you deny that report? >> we continue to look into that very carefully. i'm not yet satisfied that we've gotten to the bottom of it, and we're going to keep looking at it. >> reporter: republicans had a different focus. >> big tech is out to get conservatives. >> we won't do any work to politically tilt anything one way or the other. it's against our core values. >> reporter: republicans argue the president and his son are being penalized on social media. >> donald trump jr. got taken down for a period of time because he put something up on

the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine. >> reporter: the video contained false information about covid-19. >> we do prohibit content that will lead to imminent risk of harm, and stating that there is a proven cure for covid, when there is, in fact, none, might encourage someone to go take something that could have some adverse effect. so we do take that down. >> reporter: this subcommittee has been investigating the tech industry for more than a year, and in its final report on anti-competitive practices could form the basis for future legiation. the president is now threatening to take action on his own via an executive order if congress doesn't act. >> nancy, thank you. civil rights hero john lewis will be laid to rest today in atlanta. yesterday he was carried through the streets of the city on his way to the state capitol. the funeral will be held later this morning at ebenezer baptist

church. speakers lead former presidents bill clinton and george w. bush, former president barack obama will deliver the eulogy. in "the new york times" this morning, lewis' final essay which was set to be published on the morning of his funeral. it has an urgent message for the civil rights activists of today. he says this. though i may not be here with you, i urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. in my life, i have done all i can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love, and nonviolence is the more excellent way. now it is your turn to let freedom ring. when historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last. and that peace finally triumphed over aggression and war. so i say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the

power of everlasting love be your guide. boy, now let's go to the ebenezer baptist church in atlanta. cbs this morning saturday co-host michelle miller is outside. michelle, those words give me goose bumps. they are so powerful and so uniquely, so uniquely john lewis. >> i couldn't say it better, gayle. good morning to you. and as you well know, ebenezer baptist church, here where i'm standing, has had a longstanding history. dr. martin luther king jr. preached here. he's actually buried just next to the old sanctuary across the street. and it's the church congressman lewis called home. lewis married his wife here. they were both life-long members and this is where the world will say good-bye to him. one by one, mourners went to the georgia state capitol to pay their respects to the civil rights leader john lewis. a man who dedicated his entire life to fighting for equal

rights. now the boy from troy will be laid to rest in the state he's represented for more than three decades. earlier wednesday, congressman lewis left the u.s. capitol for the last time as his fellow lawmakers said good-bye. >> john lewis made it clear to us that when we see wrong, when we see things that need to change, we should find a way to get in the way. >> mourners greeted him in atlanta lining the streets as the hearse carrying his casket rolled through downtown. it stopped briefly at a mural of lewis inscribed with the word hero. >> may his words, actions and legacy continue to serve as our country's conscience. >> reporter: georgia governor brian kemp and atlanta mayor keisha lance bottoms praised lewis for his life-long fight for equality which continued right up to his recent visit to black lives matter plaza in washington, d.c. bottoms said his push to get into good trouble has inspired her actions as a leader.

>> and so governor, when the good trouble continues, know that it is with the blessings of congressman lewis. >> he was warm and gentle md thoughtful. and while the nation has lost an incredible historical figure, i've lost my dear friend. >> reporter: former atlanta mayor bill campbell was friends with lewis for more than 40 years. he said lewis leaves a legacy that will rival some of the greatest icons in history. >> when history is written, it will reflect the great figures of the 20th century. and john lewis will be right beside those incredible figures. >> of course, mayor campbell will be at the services along with ambassador andrew young, the wife of hank aaron. these were couples, really, who were best friends with the congressman and his late wife lilian. we should note that after the funeral, the motorcade will take the body of the congressman past atlanta city hall, the capitol

on to south view cemetery where his wife is buried. and several churches around the country also plan to do their part to honor the congressman today. at 11:00 a.m. during the funeral services, houses of worship plan to ring their bells for 80 seconds to honor the 80 years john lewis lived. gayle? >> michelle, i talked to ambassador young yesterday. he mentioned the conversation, the interview that he had with you. and he said, listen, we should all remember that john lewis started this work, this civil rights work at the age of 15. he made it to 80. he said that is victory. that is a celebration. and now it's time for him to go home. i thought that was very well said, too. >> time for that rest, yes. very well said. >> his family described him as a humble, simple man, but to the very end, he devoted his life to making this world a better place for all of us. thank you michelle miller. we'll talk to you later on. later this morning on "cbs

news" we'll bring you congressman john lewis' funeral. you can watch it right here on cbs. and on our streaming service at

heed our series "the new ahead our series the new normal looks at the stress parents face as the pandemic continues, tips on how to ease the anxiety. you're watching "cbs this morning." ♪ [beep] ♪ [whoosh] ♪ give everyone something to look up to.

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good morning everyone. it's 7:56. i'm michelle griego. three people are wounded after a late night shooting in san jose. police say it happened at about 11:00 last night on snow drive. the shooting victims are expected to survive. along with a fourth person who was physically assaulted. right now, alameda county has the most coronavirus cases in the bay area. prompting questions of a second wave and lockdown. the county is now closing in on 11,000 cases. the san francisco unified school district will get $15 million from the city. it will go toward helping

support students and teachers. the money is expected to close the district's $22 million budget shortfall. and let's take a quick look at the roads right now. the san mateo bridge, not looking too bad in the commute direction. looking like a 13 minute drive from 880 on hayward into foster city. and the bay bridge toll plaza the metering lights are on but still not a bad drive. an 11 minute drive from the maze into san francisco. mary? michelle, tracking low clouds and areas of fog and even a little bit of drizzle this morning. so it's definitely a gray start tracking that onshore flow as we head through the afternoon, we'll see that sunshine for most of us except for the coast. the sunshine inland. 91 in concord and 90 for livermore and 82 for san jose and clearing around the bay. 64 in san francisco and 71 for oakland. little bit warmer on friday. but there we go. warming things up especially for saturday and for sunday. want restaurants to open?

and schools? want the economy to get back on track? you're not alone. and you can help make it happen. stay 6 feet apart. wash your hands. wear a mask every time you leave your home. choose to join the fight against covid-19. do your part. slow the spread.

welcome back to "cbs this morning." the start of the school year is just weeks away, and millions of parents are worried about what's next for their children. many are juggling work and family life during this pandemic. in "the new normal," we look at how the coronavirus is changing everyday lives. meg oliver shows us how many families are struggling to cope. there were times where i, you know, had to pull myself out of bed. and just not finding motivation throughout the day. >> reporter: for jennifer valenzuela, the carefree days of a california summer have been anything about. >> when schools closed down in march, that wasn't distance

learning. that was emergency learning. >> reporter: the 31-year-old mom of two had three jobs and was going back to school when covid-19 hit the u.s. >> having to manage, you know, doing mom duties and also being a teacher for them and trying to study myself, it was really difficult. it was a big change for all of us. >> reporter: valenzuela and her kids have asthma. she says that means traditional schooling is not an option for now, nor is staying in the work force. do you feel like you have to choose over the safety of your children versus making a living and going back to work? >> i do honestly. i really do. that's something that i've been struggling with because i do have three jobs. so you know, i can't realistically do all three and take care of my children. >> reporter: the emotional strain on parents stretches across the country. how stressed are you? >> i'm a morning person. now i don't want to get up in the morning. >> reporter: alisha alvarez lives in dallas with her husband and three children.

her oldest has adhd, add, and is bipolar. in april, she quit her job as a bus monitor for special-needs students to stay home full time. >> it's so hard being a parent right now because these kids don't understand you can't go outside and play with your friends. but -- >> it's taking a toll, isn't it? >> my 14-year-old has been home since march 13rd when spring break started. and he stays in his room. and i can't stand that. i have to force him to go -- to come outside. >> there you go. keep pushing -- >> reporter: in west orange, new jersey, this family is struggling a role reversal. >> it's been a disaster. it's took everything we knew and threw it up in the air and brought it back down. >> reporter: mom lauren, an essential worker at a local hospital, goes into work five days a week, leaving dad, matthew, who works at a bank, home to juggle remote working and remote learning with two

kids. >> matt knew from not knowing the kids' schedules, not knowing what activities had to be done, not knowing really much about their schoolwork not because he's not involved but because he physically wasn't there to really taking over everything. >> it is challenging, but you need to also keep in mind you can only focus on what you can control. >> it's a matter of accepting the day-to-day change and -- >> reporter: an associate professor of social work at branman university has been coaching parents through the summer of uncertainty. how did parents survive this? >> we were in survival mode for a good three to four months. you know, we can do anything for three to four months. now we're moving into the fall, and people have lost the thrill of the survival. >> reporter: back in california, jennifer valenzuela says she's surviving on optimism. >> different outlook for the fall? >> i'm hopeful. you know, there has been more planning, more training. i'm hoping for the best.

>> reporter: pearlman is encouraging parents to think weeks ahead instead of months ahead to manage the stress. she also says it's important for parents to come together right now, helping others even in the smallest ways can help you, too, especially if you're struggling with anxiety. gayle? >> boy, meg, i feel for all those mothers. jennifer, lauren, alisha. i thought lauren said it best that covid took everything we knew, through it up in the air, let it fall, and like you all figure it out. it's tough. it's very, very tough. >> reporter: really tough. >> you've got kids at home, too. you understand. we've seen you home schooling, too. a lot to do. thank you very much, meg oliver. coming up next, nasa's newest mission to search for evidence of past life on mars. anybody want to go? how the most sophisticated mars rover yet willtoday's top storin

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this morning an ambitious

mission to mars named perseveran perseverance. this is the first part of a multi-billion dollar effort to bring martian rock samples back to earth. mark strassman shows us the challenges that lie ahead. >> reporter: and liftoff. as the count down to mars continues. >> destination mars. and for this mission, almost 300 million miles left to go. >> mack one, that was now super sonic. >> reporter: it's nasa's biggest and most sophisticated recover ever built. on board 19 cameras and high-tech wizardry. >> you're getting the opportunity to see it -- >> reporter: before the pandemic, mimi showed us the

ingenuity. this 4 pound helicopter will photograph the landscape. it will make space history flying in an atmosphere 100 times thinner than earth. >> which is more valuable, the pictures or proving it can supply? >> my own bias, proving it flies. that gives us the foundation to build our dream, much larger vehicles for mars. >> reporter: the mission's main gal, peer deep and the past. another nasa recover confirmed the planet could have supported life. perseverance heopes to establis whether it did. >> that's difference? >> yes. >> whether there could have been life or was life. >> yes. >> ken willford and his team hope to find signs of ancient life here. with its robotic arm,

perseverance will play astro biologist and drill into rock where water once flowed. the samples it collects may hold proof of life. >> the pond scum at the edge of a lake. >> that would be the galaxy's most valuable pond scum? >> indeed. that's what we're looking for. bringing the samples back to earth takes two mind blowing missions. a nasa rocket will launch them off mars and a european spacecraft will catch them mid orbit and return them to earth. >> no one has ever done a round trip to another planet before. getting samples back from mars has always been a major goal. ambitious but an exciting mission. >> reporter: cruising to mars will take almost 7 months

touchdown happens mid february next year. mark strassman, pasadena, california. what an exciting mission, gayle. i can't wait to see what's in the world's most valuable pond scum. >> complicated, costly, and cool. >> yeah. >> yep. exciting is the word you guys may use. i look at it and go, no thanks, no desire. as john tower, our senior producer pointed out, he said, gayle you're not on anybody's top ten list to go. you don't have to worry about it. he's very good for the ego. i admire the people that want to go. it's just not for me, i'm too scared. >> you can stay earth bound, gayle. ahead vladimir duthiers

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that's why i've got the power of 1,2,3 medicines with trelegy. the only fda-approved, once-daily 3 in 1 copd treatment. ♪ ♪ ♪ amazing grace >> you probably would never believe it but the boy from troy, as dr. king used to call you, embodiment of non-violence in america. ♪ that saved a wretch >> wake up, america, wake up! for we cannot stop and we will

not -- ♪ i once was >> the state capitol, beaten, bloody, unconscious but never became bitter or hostile, never gave up. ♪ when we shall >> you're never too young or too old to lead! to speak up, and speak out and get into trouble. necessary trouble. ♪ than when we first >> as long as there is a united states of america, now there will be a national museum of african-american history and culture. we must never, ever give up or give in. you must keep the faith and keep your eyes and it get iway.y.t [ applause ] ♪ amen

[ applause ] ♪ this is a cbs news special report. i'm norah o'donnell in atlanta. and we are coming on the air as the nation along with family, friends and three former american presidents mark the passing of civil rights icon and congressman john lewis. lewis died 13 days ago after battling pancreatic cancer. he was 80 years old. and, boy, did he do a lot in those 80 years. at the top of the hour churches across the country will ring their bells for 80 seconds to honor john lewis. and today is the last of six days of tributes in alabama, washington, d.c. and now here in

atlanta, georgia, his adopted home city and the place he represented for more than three decades. in congress. today's service is being held in the horizon sanctuary of atlanta's historic ebenezer baptist church. lewis was a parishioner here at ebenezer. we're here with many of the parishioners gathered outside to pay tributes as well. this is also where he was married in 1968. and it's the place lewis' mentor, martin luther king jr., once preached the gospel and his message of non-violence as co-pastor. now, the horizon sanctuary is a part of ebenezer baptist church and normally seats about 2000 people. it's a big, big, church, but this pandemic changed that because of the strict social distancing, only about 240 people are allowed to attend. you can see much of the family has already gathered inside, and after the service, john lewis will be laid to rest at the

city's south view cemetery. that cemetery is the final resting place of more than 80,000 african-americans who have made major contributions to our country's historic struggle for freedom and peace. there lewis will receive military funeral honors including a three volley salute followed by a seven firing, a bugler playing taps and presentation of the flag at his internment site. we'll have it all for you here on cbs. and to remember, john lewis was 19 when first arrested for his activism aimed at making this country equal and just for all. from sitting at segregated sunk cou counters and to that bloody sunday, lewis carved a place for himself in american history as a courageous activist, and, of course, a pillar of the house of representatives for more than three decades.

he would become known as the conscience of congress. it has been an extraordinary week of tributes and joined outside ebenezer church by cbs "this morning: saturday" co-host michelle miller. i get emotional just even -- >> i see that, norah. >> going through, and many of the people here, too, what an extraordinary life he lived and so um lives he touched and so much change to the country and still unfulfilled promise. >> unfulfilled and still working through death as we saw through that emotional tribute he carried out himself in writing, in the "new york times." he's reaching out to this next generation to move forward and his legacy, he truly wants to be the restoration of the voting rights act. i look around and i see the people who have gathered here today. despite the fact that we're dealing with covid-19, despite the fact that the family wanted people to stay at home and watch the service on television.

i heard a woman say to me, she says, ms. miller, she said, i couldn't stay home. this man marched for me. this man fought for me. i have to come pay my respects. >> i'll say. you can see many members of congress could not miss this either. we just saw kamala harris and senator cory booker. >> and four mayors of this great city of atlanta including former u.n. ambassador. you have andrew young, you have keisha lance bottoms sitting there. you have bill campbell, the mayor during the olympics and you also have andrew young, who was mayor and then 40 years' worth of leadership in this city, and such an historic era and area that we are in right now. >> such a powerful gathering here today. many of these presidents we've not seen in public since the pandemic began and we will see them today.

we also have the honor of being joined by cbs news correspondent bill plante joining us from his home in washington, d.c., and for those of you that have watched cbs news, you know that bill was a young cbs reporter in 1965 when then 25-year-old john lewis helped lead a march from selma to montgomery, alabama, and bill plante bore witness to what happened on the edmund pettus bridge and, bill, so good to have you, and tell us about that day that has since become known at "bloody sunday"? >> well, you know, norah, john lewis at 25 was low-key, determined, yes, he could preach, but he usually was pretty quiet. and that day he set out with jose williams at the head of the line. he had a knapsack on his back. in that knapsack was an orange, a apple and a book, because he expected to be arrested and

spend at least one night in jail. of course, we all know what happened, and it was happened with such nastiness, such meanness. in fact, there's a woman hit that day who told me that sheriff clark is supposed to have said, if there's anybody dead over there, i'm not sending an ambulance. let the buzzards eat them. that kind of attitude was not surprising in those days, but john lewis was able to forgive, and that's something that he did all his life, with, in a way that most people never could. here was a guy who's been, had his skull fractured by troopers baton and gassed at the same time. and he, as he said to me many times, it is hard to love somebody who's hurting me, but he did manage to do that. he told me many years later. he said, all i did was give a little blood that day, but what an awful day it was.

>> you know, i've, that quote struck me, that he told you all i did was give a little blood that day, his humility. yet you were there and those images helped propel this nation and push president lyndon johnson to finally sign into law the voting rights act of 1965. that's how seminal a moment this was in american history. >> no question, norah. because when the rest of the country saw that video from that night, i think most people didn't realize what was going on in the battle for voting rights. but people were appalled to see officers of the law attacking peaceful protesters with such -- with such extraordinary power and meanness, and it made a big difference in the way that johnson was able to work the congress and get the civil rights bill. the voting rights bill. >> bill plante, so good to see you, and thank you so much for joining us. i know we'll continue to talk

over these next few hours. that extraordinary moment, and all you witnessed in your many interviews with john lewis. i also want to bring in director don po dawn porter with special insight to john lewis. she documented lewis' story in her acclaimed film "good trouble" and, dawn, thank you so much for joining us. we've watched your extraordinary film. my whole family the other night. your whole team, such an amazing job. you had the pleasure spending 2019 with congressman lewis. what were the lessons you learned from him? >> well, first, thank you for watching the film, and i'm so glad that so many families have been able to experience the congressman's life and contributions together. that is certainly what we hoped, although not under these circumstances. i was really struck. we filmed for over a year, as you mentioned, and i was really

struck at the congressman's determination, but also optimism. he really deeply loved america, and he loved the promise of america, and no matter what he was faced with, what circumstances, he could find a bit of hope. he could find something to point to that he could celebrate, and that was really inspirational to me, you know. i think we've all been concerned about politics and about the divisions in our country, and he didn't focus on the division. he focused on the things that bring us together. and that is just so quintessentially the congressman. >> you know, dawn, i was so struck by something that you wrote when you uncovered all of this remarkable footage of lewis, you wrote, i saw countless examples of lewis walking again and again almost with natural calm into

firestorms of hope. and there's that one quote in your documentary as well, and i think it was -- james clyburn who said it. that when you lose fear, you have freedom, and that's paraphrasing that, but in so many ways at the same time he was fearless in his effort to bring about change through non-violence. >> that's right. you know, non-violence, really the hallmark and the core of the congressman's belief. he accepted non-violence almost with a religious veracity, and once he decided that he would have love his enemies, he would always look for the humanity. even in people who were beating him, and he would be non-violent. that was jut power that he could

remain calm, to keep being the person he was even in the, in such violence happening around him. but he did say that. john lewis said to me that when he was on that bridge that he had accepted his plight. he said, you lose all fear and that allowed him to propel himself and in pushing himself forward, he pushed the country forward. and so, you know, his life and legacy is a remarkable gift. it is not something that we are likely to see again any time soon. and i miss him. i was privileged to spend so much time with him. i will never forget that time. >> dawn, i know you lost saw john lewis on valentine's day 2020 to show him the film. what did he say when he was

watching it? >> you know, he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in december. so we had completely finished the film before them. so it really took us aback. it was really shocking to hear. so i flew to washington, d.c. to show him the film. i didn't know what to expect because he had been diagnosed. and i knew he was in treatment. but he answered the door with his character stick, his nice blue sweater, and we watched on my laptop in his living room. and he kept saying it's so powerful. it's so pauf. and i sa -- powerful. i said, congressman, your life is what's possible. he cried. he laughed. i think the joy i take from this project from this film is knowing that he saw himself as

we see him. he saw himself as not just brave but strategic, compassionate, humble. and just, you know, what a gift to american culture. >> well, dawn porter, thank you so much for joining us. and thank you for your beautiful documentary and such a contribution to history as well, all the hard work done to put that together. let's pause now for a moment of silence. the top of the hour. 500 or more churches across america will ring the bell 80 times. [ bell tolls ].

[ bell tolls ]. [ bell tolls ].

[ bell tolls ].

[ bell tolls ]. [ bell tolls ].

[ bell tolls ].

>> amen. we thank god for that moment. and now pastor warnock and the family. >> more than 500 churches across america doing the same today. 80 bells to play tribute to congressman john lewis. the service here at ebenezer baptist church in atlanta is about to begin. we just saw president george h.w. bush and laura bush arrive, and the speaker of the house. now you see bill clinton entering as well. we are expecting bill clinton. the applause is from the crowd gathered outside the church. he will deliver a tribute today, as will president george w. bush. and president barack obama is expected to deliver the eulogy.

when president barack obama was elected president of the united states. michelle miller was with me. and that incredible moment where john lewis said he was so emotional watching president barack obama be sworn in. he brought the program to barack obama and barack obama wrote, because of you, john. >> because of him. >> let's listen in to the reverend dr. warnock. >> in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. for the dead must be raised in core ruptable.

we shall all be changed. this mortal must put on immortality. in core rupgz and when this core ruptable, oh, death, where is your sting. tkaebgt is swallowed up in victory. oh, death, where it your sting. oh, great, where is your victory? who gave john robert lewis the

victory through jesus christ, our lord and liberator. let all the children of god say amen. . >> amen. >> we're in a baptist church. say it louder. >> amen. . >> you may be seated. god bless you my sisters and brothers. you who sit in the sanctuary and those who joan us on our church live stream or on television. god bless you and welcome to ebenezer baptist church, spiritual home of martin luther king jr., spiritual home of john

robert lewis. america's freedom church. we have come to say farewell to our friend in these difficult days that have made grieving more challenging. at a 250eu78 when we would find comfort in embracing one another. love compels us to socially distance from one another. but make no mistake, we are together in principle even if not in proximity. we may not all be in the same ro room, but we are all on the same page. and we are in touch with the same spirit. we love john robert lewis.

[ applause ]. >> come on. give god grace. come on. let the nation celebrate. let the angels rejoice. john lewis. john lewis! the boy from troy. [ applause ]. let me just offer this. we praise god for john lewis. and as we gather in this house of god, we are reminded that as a teenager, he actually wrestled

with a call to ministry. a farm boy, he used to preach to the chickens. i guess you have to start somewhere. at age 16, he preached what we baptists call his trial sermon in a little country church. but as his life took shape, instead of preaching sermons, he became one. he became a living, walking, sermon about truth telling and justice making in the earth. he loved america until america learned how to love him back. we celebrate were john lewis. [ applause ]. at a time when there was so much going on in our world, the news cycle is packed and moves at a

dizzying pace. yet for the last several days it is as in time stood style while the nation takes its time to remember him. and i rise simply to ask in this cause to celebration, what is it that has summoned us here and caused us to slow down, to linger for a little while, with so much swirling around us. we are summoned here because in a moment when there are some in high office who are much better at the vision who cannot lead us so yet they seek to divide us, in a moment when there is so much political cynicism and narcissism that masquerades as patriotism, here lies a true

american patriot who risked his life and limb for the hope and the profits of democracy. [ applause ]. >> we celebrate john lewis. never bitter. on a bridge in selma he stared down bigotry and tyranny and won. how did he do it? the great great grandson of slaves he received a spiritual power, born of suffering. a moral audacity that transcended human station and called upon the human law to more closely align itself with the law of love. howard thurmond said by some amazing by vastly creative spirit talt, the slave undertook the redemption of a religious that the master profaned in his midst. john lewis's ancestors met a man

named jesus in georgia, mississippi, and alabama. and john lewis received that faith and took it with him across the bridge in selma and every other bridge. we have come to celebrate john lewis. so let us be clear. when president johnson picked up his pen to sign the voting rights bill into law, what he etched in ink had already been sanctioned by blood. the blood of the martyrs, the blood of cheney, goodman, and swarpber, two jews and an african-american. the blood of viola, the blood of john lewis. we celebrate john lewis. he was wounded. he was wounded for america's

transgressions. bruised for our iniquities. chastised on peace. and by his strives we are healed. so let's remember him today and let's recommit tomorrow to standing together and fighting together and voting together and standing up on behalf of truth and righteousness together. we'll get through this together. let's save the soul of our democracy together. let's worship the lord. let's worship the lord together. thank god for john robert lewis. let the nation say amen. . >> amen. >> and let the angels rejoice.

>> good morning. i will be coming from the 23rd number of psalms. the lord is my shepherd. i shall not want. he maketh maine to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. he restoreth my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. yea, though, i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i

will fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil. my cup runneth over. surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all thes of my life. and i will dwell in the house of the lord forever. thank you. >> good morning. if i could speak all the languages of earth and of angels that didn't love others, i would only be a noisy, gong or khrapbging cymbal. if i had the gift of tprofity and possessed all knowledge and if i had such faith that i could move mountains but didn't love others, i would be nothing. if i gave everything i have to the poor and even sacrificed my

body, i could boast about it. but if i didn't love others, i would have gained nothing. love is patient and kind. love is not jealous or boastful or proud. it does not demand its own weight. it is notteer tabl. and it keeps no record of being wronged. it does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, endured through every circumstance. prophecy and speaking in an unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. but love will last forever. now our knowledge is partial and incomplete and even the gift of tprofity reveals only part of the whole picture. but when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. when i was a child, i spoke and thought and reasoned as a child.

but when i grew up, i put away childish things. now we see things im3e6ly like puzzling reflections in a moore error but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. all that i know now is partial and incomplete. but then i will know everything completely. just as god now knows me completely. three things will last forever. faith, hope, and love. and the greatest of these is love. thank you. [ applause ]. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> while we know death is the great equalizer, we all recognize that each person's experience with it is different. and so i want to extend

condolences to you, john miles, the siblings of john lewis, and the entire lewis family on behalf of the entire king family, including my aunt christine, my dad's only living sib lincoln who would have been here with us today but for covid. but rest assured she is viewing us on television as we speak. let us pray. great and mighty god, who's creator of us all and sustainer of all things, we invoke you on this morning, we welcome you, holy spirit, into this place. he humbly look to you within this hour for wisdom and strength and comfort as we celebrate the homegoing of your son and servant, congressman john robert lewis.

please dear father comfort this family and grant them a piece of god that passes all understanding, surround them with your love. in the words of your servant martin luther king jr., who reminded us that death is not a period that ends this great sentence of life but a comma which punctuates it to a lofty and higher significance, help us, oh, god, to grasp that truth and see the magnitude of this moment. not merely as the death of a great soul but as a divine message that says to each and every one of us on this earth, be still and know that i am god. hear me and heed my message in this hour. that love, even for an enemy, is the only way to transform this

world into a true brother and sisterhood. we thank you, god, for the life and legacy of congressman john lewis who showed us this more excellent way of life. we thank you for honoring us with his presence and allowing our lives to intersect with his life. be with his family, be with those who struggle with him in that movement. and know that he continues to live on in and through each and every one of them, each and every one of us. we praise you, oh, god, for this nonviolent warrior who fought for true peace which daddy taught us is not the absence of tension but the presence of justice. as we honor the life of congressman john lewis who shed blood on that edmund pettus bridge that we might have the right to vote. grant that we never again take

that right for granted and that we exercise it no matter what and that we never again tamper about that right, overtaken this hour our congress that they might restore voting rights protections in our nation. as we honor the life of this nonviolent warrior who embodied the very spirit of christ and showed us that we have the spiritual power to resist injustice and evil and hatred and vitt jol with the force of love and truth. we are eternally grateful, oh, god, that he lived among us for for score years and demonstrated on that bridge, that physical force is no match for soul force. grant us the capacity to follow his example to fight injustice without bitterness and hostility but with righteous indignation. oh, god, as aelijah's anointing

let a double portion of what john lewis's life was like fall on us in this hour so we can continue to get a good trouble. a tphoeupt us in this generation to get into good trouble until there is radical reform in policing in our nation. anoint us a double portion to get into good trouble until voter suppression is no longer part of our body public. anoint us with the double portion to get into good trouble until there is an in connect distribution of wealth in this nation until everyone has a livable wage and affordable housing and good health care. anoint us, oh god, with a double portion to get into good trouble until all are treated with digni dignity. until the school and the prison pipeline is nonexistent and every child gets an equitable

education. get into good trouble until white supremacy is uprooted, disphapt elled and all of our policies and everyday practices and behaviors no longer reflect white supremacy. grant us a double portion, god, to get into good trouble until this nation truly becomes a compassionate nation. because as daddy reminded us ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. grant us, god, a double portion of anointing to get into good trouble until black bodies are no longer a threat in this world. and black lives have equitable representation power and influence in every arena. grant us finally, father god, that a double portion to get

into good trouble until love becomes the way we live. the way we lead. the way we legislate. and until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. thank you, oh, god, for this great man who lived among us who know joins the great cloud of freedom fighters. and, lord, we thank you for his life and his legacy. and we will continue to get into good trouble as long as you grant us the breath to do so. it is the majestic in the mighty name of jesus the christ that i do pray and all the people of god said together amen. . >> amen.

♪

♪ you may build cathedrals large or small ♪ ♪ you may build skyscrapers big and tall ♪ ♪ you may conquer all the failures of your past ♪

♪ but only what you do for christ will last ♪ ♪ you may seek earthly power, weight and fame ♪ ♪ and the world might be impressed by your great name ♪

♪ soon the glory of this life will all soon be passed ♪ ♪ but only what you do for christ will last ♪ ♪ remember only what you do for christ will last ♪

♪ remember, only, only, only what you do, yeah, for christ will last ♪ ♪ only what you do for him, it will, it will be counted ♪ ♪ only what you do for christ will last ♪

♪ remember only what you do for christ will last ♪ ♪ only what you do, only what you do for christ will last ♪ ♪ only what, only what you do, to do for christ will be counted ♪

♪ only what you do, what you do for christ is going to last, oh, it's going to last, yeah ♪ ♪ only what you do, what you do for christ will last ♪ ♪ oh, only what you do for christ will last ♪

♪ only what you do, only what you do ♪ . >> this is john lewis's favorite poem, invictus. >> out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, i thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

in the fell clutch of circumstance i have not winced nor cried aloud. under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed. beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the year finds and shall find me unafraid. it matters not how strait the gate. how charged with punishments the scroll. i am the master of my fate, and i am the captain of my soul. john lewis was my friend. let's honor him by get getting in good trouble. [ applause ]. >> only the in conquerable spirit and the magnanimous soul of john lewis could summon all of us together in this place at

this time. only john lewis could compel three living american presidents to come to this house of god. [ applause ]. to celebrate his life. and we are grateful that all of them are here. the honorable george w. bush. [ applause ]. who was president the last time we authorized the voting rights act. the honorable william jefferson clinton. [ applause ].

>> and in just a little while, we will hear from the honorable barack obama. [ applause ]. but the program will proceed as printed. president bush, president clinton, speaker of the house nancy pelosi -- >> [ applause ]. and another living saint among us, teacher and activist, the reverend james lawson. [ applause ].

>> good morning. >> good morning. >> distinguished guests, john miles, lewis family and friends, laura and i thank you for allowing us to be here today. john's story began on a tiny farm in troy, alabama, a place so small he said you could barely find it on the map. >> you talked about the chickens. i did a little research. every morning he would rise before the sun to tend to the flock of chickens.

he loved those chickens. they tended to their every need. even their spiritual ones. they married them and preached to them. when his parents claimed one of the family suffered, john refused to eat one of his flock. going hungry was his first act of nonviolent protest. he also noted in later years that his first congregation of chickens listened to him more closely than some of his colleagues in congress. john also thought the chickens were just a little more productive. at least they produce eggs, he said. from troy to the citizens of

nashville from the freedom rides to the march on washington, from freedom to selma, john lewis always looked outward, not inward. he always thought of others. he always believed in preaching the gospel in word and in deed, insisting that hate and fear had to be answered with love and hope. john lewis believed in the lord. he believed in humanity and he believed in america. he's been called an american saint. a believer willing to give up everything. even life itself, to bear witness to the truth that drove him all his life. that we could build a world of peace, justice, harmony, dignity and love. and the first crucial step on that journey was a recognition

that all people are born in the image of god and carry a spark of the divine within them. laura and i were privileged to seek that spark in john up close. we work with him to bring the national museum of african-american history and culture to the national mall. he was in straoumental in the unsolved civil rights crimes act which i signed to seek resolution in cases where justice had been too long denied. and we will never forget joining him in selma, alabama, for the 50th anniversary of his march across the edmund pettus bridge with we got to watch president barack obama thank john as one of his heroes. [ applause ]. there was a tore in the old

scriptures that meant a lot to john. the lord is looking for a prophet in the he's breae bible. isaiah answers, here am i. send me. john lewis heard that call a long time ago and segregated alabama. and he took up the work of the lord through all his days. his lesson for us is that we must all keep ourselves open to hearing the call of love. the call of service, and the call to sacrifice for others. listen, john and i had our disagreements of course. but in the america john lewis fought for and the america i believe in, differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action. [ applause ].

we the people, including congressman and presidents can have differing views on how to perfect our union, while sharing the conviction that our nation, however flawed, is at heart a good and noble one. we live in a better and nobler country today because of john lewis and his abiding faith in the power of god. in the power of democracy. and the power of love to lift us all to a higher ground. the story that began in troy isn't ending here today, nor is the work. john lewis lives forever in his father's house. and he will live forever in the hearts of americans who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their god. may the flights of angels see

john lewis to his rest and may god bless the country he loved. [ applause ]. ♪ ♪ [ applause ]

>> thank you very much. first, i thank john miles and the lewis family, and john's staff for a chance to say a few words, about a man i loved for a long time. i am grateful of the pastor to say it in ebenezer, a holy place, sanctified by both the faith and the works of those who have worshipped here. i thank my friend, reverend bernice king, who stood by my side and gave a fascinating sermon, in one of the most challenging periods of my life.

i thank president and mrs. bush, president obama. speaker pelosi, thank you. and representative hoyer and representative clyburn. who i really thank for, with the stroke of a hand, ending an int intrafamily fight within our party. proving that peace is needed by everyone. madame mayor, thank you. you have faced more than a fair share of challenges in these last you few months, and you have faced them with candor and dignity and honor. and i thank you for your leadership. [ applause ]

i must say, for a fellow that got his start speaking to chickens, john's gotten a pretty finely organized and orchestrated and deeply deserved send-off this last week. his home-going has been something to behold. i think it's important that all of us who loved him remember that he was, after all, a human being. a man like all other humans, born with strengths that he made the most of, when many don't. born with weaknesses that he worked hard to beat down, when

many can't. but still a person. it made him more interesting, and it made him, in my mind, even greater. 20 years ago, we celebrated the 35th anniversary of the selma march, and we walked together, along with calretta and many others from the movement who are no longer with us. we're grateful for young and reverend jackson, diane nash, and many others p s who surviv. but on that day, i got him to replay for me a story he told me when we first met, back in the

1970s. and i said, you know, i was just an aspiring whatever, southern politician. hadn't been elected governor. he was already a legend. so i said, "john, what's the closest you ever came to getting killed doing this?" he said, "well, once we were at a demonstration, and i got knocked down on the ground. and people were getting beat up pretty bad. all of a sudden, i looked up, and there was a man holding a long, heavy piece of pipe. and he lifted it and was clearly going to bring it right down into my skull. and at the very last second, i turned my neck away, and then the crowd pushed him a little bit. couple seconds later, i couldn't believe i was still alive." i think it's important to remember that.

first, because he was a quick thinker, and, secondly, because he was here on a mission that was bigger than personal ambition. things like that sometimes just happen, but, usually, they don't. i think three things happened to john lewis long before we met and became friends that made him who he was. first, the famous story of john with his cousins and siblings, holding his aunt's hand, more than a dozen of them running around a little, old wooden house, as the wind threatened to blow the house off its moorings. going to the place where the house was rising, and all those tiny bodies trying to weigh it down. i think he learned something

about the power of working together. something that was more powerful than any instruction. second, nearly 20 years later, when he was 23, the youngest speaker and the last speaker at the march on washington. when we gave a great speech, urging people to take to the streets across the south, to seize the chance to finally end racism. and he listened to people that he knew had the same goals to say, "well, we have to be careful how we say this because we're trying to get converts. not more adversaries." just three years later, he lost the leadership of snick to

carmichael. because he said, "you know, i'd really" -- it was a pretty good job for a guy that young, to come from troy, alabama. it must have been painful to lose, but he showed, as a young man, there are some things that you cannot do to hang on to a position. because if you do them, you won't be who you are anymore. and i say, there were two or three years there where the movement went a little bit too far towards stokley, but, in the end, john lewis prevailed. we are here today because he had the kind of character he showed when he lost an election.

then there was bloody sunday. he figured he might get arrest arrested. this is really important. for all the things we believe about john lewis, he had a really good mind, and he was trying to figure out, how can i make the most of every single moment? so he's getting ready to march from selma to montgomery. he wants to get across the bridge. what do we remember? he made a strange figure. he had a trench coat and a backpack. now, young people probably think that's no big deal, but there weren't that many backpacks back then. and you never saw anybody in a

trench coat, looking halfway dressed up with a backpack. but john put an apple, an orange, a toothbrush, toothpaste in the backpack, to take care of his body, because he figured he'd get arrested. and two books. one, a book by richard houstettr on america's politics to feed his mind. and the autobiology of a roman catholic monk, who was the son of itinerant artists, making an astonishing personal transformation. what's a young guy who is about to get his brains beat out, planning on going to prison, doing on taking that? i think he figured that if thomas merton could find his way

and keep his faith, and believe in the future, he, john lewis, could, too. [ applause ] >> so we honor our friend. for his faith and for living his faith, which the scripture says is the substance of things hoped for. the evidence of things unseen. john lewis was a walking rebuke to people who thought, well, we ain't there yet. we've been working a long time. isn't it time to bag it? he kept moving. he hoped for and imagined and lived and worked and moved for his beloved community. he took a savage beating on more

than one day. and he lost that backpack on bloody sunday. nobody really knows what happened to it. maybe, someday, someone will be stricken with conscience, and give some of it back. but what it represented never disappeared from john lewis' spirit. we honor that memory today because, as a child, he learned to walk with. to march with others to save a tiny house. because, as a young man, he challenged others to join him. with love and dignity, to hold america's house down, and open the doors of america to all its people. we honor him because, in selma, on the third attempt, john and his comrades showed that, sometimes, you have to walk into

the wind, as well as with it. as he crossed the bridge and marched into montgomery. but no matter what, john always kept walking to reach the beloved community. he got into a lot of good trouble along the way, but let's not forget, he also developed an absolutely uncanny ability to heal troubled waters. when he could have been angry and determined to cancel his adversaries, he tried to get converts instead. he thought the open hand was better than the clenched fist. he lived by the faith and promise of st. paul, let us not grow weary in doing good. for in due season, we will reap if we do not lose heart. he never lost heart.

he fought the good fight. he kept the faith. but we got our last letter today, on the pages of the "new york times." keep moving. it is so fitting, on the day of his service, he leaves us our marching orders. keep moving. 20 years ago, when i came here after the selma march, to a big dinner honoring john, lillian, john miles, lillian, john miles, you had a big afro. and it was really pretty. and your daddy was giving you grief about it, and i said, "john, let's don't get old too soon. if i had hair like that, i'd have it down to my shoulders." but on that night, i was almost

out of time. people were to be present. people were asking me, "well, if you can do one more thing, what would it be? what do you wish you would have done that you didn't?" all that kind of stuff. someone asked me that night, because i had many friends in atlanta, and i said, "if i could just do one thing, if god came to me tonight and said, okay, your time is up, you have to go home, and i'm not a genie, i'm not giving you you three wishes. ' one thing. what would it be?" i said, "i would infect every american with whatever it was that john lewis got as a four-year-old kid and took