The congressman and prominent civil rights leader died in 2020
House leaders and the head of the U.S. Postal Service have introduced a stamp to honor the late Representative John Lewis. The stamp showcases a photograph of Lewis taken in 2013 by Marco Grob for Time magazine, while the margin of the stamp pane, known as the selvage, features a photograph from 1963 taken by Steve Schapiro during a nonviolent protest workshop. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced that the official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp will be held on July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Additionally, the Postal Service intends to rename Atlanta's main post office in Lewis' honor.
During the event at Capitol Hill, DeJoy expressed appreciation for Lewis' fearlessness and unwavering commitment to instigate positive change. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Linda Earley Chastang, Lewis' former chief of staff, also delivered speeches. McCarthy, despite his differing political affiliation, acknowledged the impact of Lewis' leadership and recounted Lewis' introduction of President Barack Obama during the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Alabama, as a significant moment.
Jeffries emphasized the stamp's everlasting representation and commemoration of Lewis, referring to him as one of the nation's greatest sons and the conscience of Congress. Lewis, renowned for his advocacy of peaceful protests, served in the House from 1987 until his passing on July 17, 2020, at the age of 80, following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. His legacy includes coining the phrase "good trouble," which became a rallying cry for supporters of equality. Lewis, an original member of the Freedom Riders, endured severe injuries inflicted by Alabama state troopers during the infamous "Bloody Sunday" in Selma in 1965.
In July 2020, Lewis became the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol. In a posthumously published op-ed in The New York Times, he urged others to follow their hearts and advocate for their beliefs while emphasizing the importance of peace, love, and nonviolence as the superior path.