John Lewis

“I think my whole life has been one of sort of daring, and sort of sailing against the wind instead of just going with the wind.”

“To make it hard, to make it difficult almost impossible for people to cast a vote is not in keeping with the democratic process.”

“Some of us gave a little blood for the right to participate in the democratic process.”

“Selma helped make it possible for hundreds and thousands of people in the South to become registered voters and encouraged people all across America to become participants in a democratic pr...”

“There may be some difficulties, some interruptions, but as a nation and as a people, we are going to build a truly multiracial, democratic society that maybe can emerge as a model for the re...”

“Before we went on any protest, whether it was sit-ins or the freedom rides or any march, we prepared ourselves, and we were disciplined. We were committed to the way of peace - the way of no...”

“We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.”

“My parents told me in the very beginning as a young child when I raised the question about segregation and racial discrimination, they told me not to get in the way, not to get in trouble, n...”

“It's a shame and a disgrace that so few people take part in the political process.”

“There are still forces in America that want to divide us along racial lines, religious lines, sex, class. But we've come too far; we've made too much progress to stop or to pull back. We mus...”

“Not one of us can rest, be happy, be at home, be at peace with ourselves, until we end hatred and division.”

“The documented incidences of voter fraud are very rare, yet throughout the country, forces have mobilized in over 30 states to stop it. These efforts are very partisan.”

“Following the teaching of Gandhi and Thoreau, Dr. King, it set me on a path. And I never looked back.”

“The action of Rosa Parks, the words and leadership of Dr. King inspired me. I was deeply inspired. I wanted to do something.”

“Listening to Dr. King on the radio inspired me. Coming under the influence of Jim Lawson inspired me to think that I, too, could do something.”

“Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.”

“I really believe that all of us, as Americans... we all need to be treated like fellow human beings.”

“I travel all the time, but when I come back to the South, I see such progress. In a real sense, a great deal of the South has been redeemed. People feel freer, more complete, more whole, bec...”

“Never become bitter, and in the process, be happy and just go for it.”

“In the past the great majority of minority voters, in Ohio and other places that means African American voters, cast a large percentage of their votes during the early voting process.”