AT 75 CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS HAS THE BIGGEST BASH (4/6/15)

     Since the late 80s, he's represented Georgia's 5th District, but since the 60s, he's represented freedom.

     Because of that, the stars came out this spring to celebrate the 75th birthday of Congressman John Lewis.  There were so many attendees that the event was held at the Tabernacle venue in downtown Atlanta.  "This has been just like a Broadway show," said a humbled Lewis. 

     “The only thing that I did,” he explained, while flanked by the evening’s many participants, “...I was inspired by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to find a way to get in the way.” 

     Lewis, while a college student, was severely beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge 50 years ago during an event in Alabama dubbed as America's 'Bloody Sunday'.

     At the birthday bash, incredible singers Jennifer Holiday, Regina Bell, the Indigo Girls, Clark King, Beth Spangler, and many others serenaded the crowd with beautiful music.  Dancers Gary Jeter and Dule Hill performed, along with members of the Morehouse College Glee Club, and many others.

     Speakers gave speech after speech of praise; reflecting on Lewis's achievements in the fight for civil rights, helping the poor have a voice in the community, and pointing youngsters to a brighter future.

     Videotaped messages from President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton were played, as were pieces narrated by John Legend and onetime Georgia Democratic gubernatorial challenger and grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, Jason Carter.

     The musical theater production Which Side Are You On? was performed by students from Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman Universities. 

     Lewis, who refers to his Atlanta constituency as "my beloved", encouraged the attendees to become freedom fighters for Humanity. 

     “The signs that I saw growing up, those signs are gone," said Congressman Lewis. "...but the struggle is not over. We have to get out there and continue to push and pull. We are one people. We are one family. We are one house,” he insisted.

-----Ray Macon