Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Costa Remembers John Lewis: He Tried to Heal 'Racial Divide'
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
July 22, 2020

Share

The death of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis late last week prompted poignant memories from Rep. Jim Costa (D – Fresno).

“I served with John Lewis for 16 years in the United States House of Representatives,” Costa said, “And I must say that, clearly, he was the conscience of the Congress.”

Official congressional portrait of Jim Costa
Rep. Jim Costa

Lewis died on July 17 at the age of 80. He was one of the Big Six civil rights activists who organized the 1963 March on Washington and represented the Atlanta area in the House since 1987.

“He was a drum major for justice,” Costa said. “His entire career was spent on trying to heal the racial divide that exists in our country today.”

Joined Lewis in Commemorating Civil Rights March

Costa recalled joining Lewis twice in recent years on visits to several southern states to reflect on the legacy of the 1960s civil rights movement. Those trips included retracing the iconic “Bloody Sunday” civil rights march in 1965 across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where Lewis was severely beaten by Alabama State Troopers.

Walking with Lewis in the commemorative walk across the bridge, “is something I will never forget,” Costa said.

Lewis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. In awarding the honor, President Barack Obama praised Lewis as, “an American who knew that change could not wait for some other person or some other time; whose life is a lesson in the fierce urgency of now.”

“I am fortunate to be able to say he was my friend,” said Costa.

Video by Darius Assemi and Jamie Ouverson

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Struck Down by US Appeals Court

DON'T MISS

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Says It Is Suspending Enforcement of Biden-Era Farmworker Rule

DON'T MISS

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

DON'T MISS

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

DON'T MISS

USDA Develops Potential Plan to Vaccinate Poultry for Bird Flu

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

DON'T MISS

Trump Says a Deal With Harvard Is Possible Over Next Week

DON'T MISS

Ohio Man Charged for Allegedly Threatening US Congressman Max Miller

UP NEXT

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

UP NEXT

Town Hall Unveils New Season With Best-Selling Authors, ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, and More

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

UP NEXT

Fresno County Ruth Fire Burns 10 Acres Near Dunlap, Cause Under Investigation

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Waters Down Infill Housing Tool. Perea Says Compromise Could Be Worse

UP NEXT

Hips Don’t Lie, and Neither Do Ticket Sales: Shakira Adds Fresno Show

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Versall Johnson Henderson

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Investigate Assault at Local Bar

UP NEXT

What Are the Nuclear Contamination Risks From Israel’s Attacks on Iran?

UP NEXT

US Court Lets Trump Keep Control of California National Guard for Now

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

18 hours ago

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

18 hours ago

USDA Develops Potential Plan to Vaccinate Poultry for Bird Flu

18 hours ago

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

18 hours ago

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

19 hours ago

Trump Says a Deal With Harvard Is Possible Over Next Week

19 hours ago

Ohio Man Charged for Allegedly Threatening US Congressman Max Miller

19 hours ago

Town Hall Unveils New Season With Best-Selling Authors, ‘Jeopardy!’ Host, and More

20 hours ago

Trump Says His Spy Chief Gabbard Wrong on Iran’s Nuclear Program

20 hours ago

Fresno Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Seek Public’s Help

21 hours ago

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Struck Down by US Appeals Court

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked Louisiana from enforcing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms of ...

17 hours ago

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill leaves the U.S. Supreme Court after justices heard arguments in an appeal by President Joe Biden's administration of restrictions imposed by lower courts on its ability to encourage social media companies to remove content deemed misinformation, in Washington, U.S., March 18, 2024. (Reuters File)
17 hours ago

Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Struck Down by US Appeals Court

A view of the Voice of America (VOA) building, a day after more than 1,300 of the employees of the media broadcaster, which operates in almost 50 languages, were placed on leave in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 16, 2025. (Reuters File)
17 hours ago

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

A farmworker repairs irrigation lines at a tomato farm in Woodland, California, U.S. May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
18 hours ago

Trump Administration Says It Is Suspending Enforcement of Biden-Era Farmworker Rule

The Ruth Fire in Yokuts Valley has burned 14 acres, destroyed one structure on Friday, June 20, 2025,, and is 20% contained as firefighters continue battling the blaze in steep terrain. (CalFire)
18 hours ago

Fresno County’s Ruth Fire Destroys Structure in Yokuts Valley

A federal appeals court struck down California’s “one-gun-per-month” law Friday, June 20, 2025, in a 3-0 decision, ruling it unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. (Shutterstock)
18 hours ago

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

Cage-Free chickens are shown inside a facility in Lakeside, California, U.S., April 19, 2022. Picture taken April 19, 2022. (Reuters File)
18 hours ago

USDA Develops Potential Plan to Vaccinate Poultry for Bird Flu

President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters/Ken Cedeno)
18 hours ago

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

19 hours ago

Fresno Now Has a Professional Shakespeare Co. Thanks to Measure P Sales Tax

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend