FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2020

CONTACTS:
Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Communications Director
415.365.1337 | cvasquez@nclrights.org

NCLR Mourns the Passing of Civil Rights Legend Representative John Lewis

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Center for Lesbian Rights today mourns the passing of civil rights activist and icon Representative John Lewis, who passed last night at the age of 80. Representative Lewis spent much of his life fighting for racial and social justice, a passion that he brought to his more-than three decades representing Atlanta, GA in the House of Representatives.

NCLR Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon issued the following statement on Representative Lewis’ passing:

“They called him the ‘Conscience of the Congress’, but he was the conscience of our movements and our people. The path toward justice is long, and we’re this far because giants like him led us here. We are his legacy. Rest well, Congressman. We’ll take it from here.”   

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The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. https://www.nclrights.org