Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James Pay Tribute To John Lewis
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and several Lakers players paid tribute to longtime US Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis, who died Friday at the age of 80 after a longtime battle with cancer.
“The first time I met John Lewis I was very emotional shaking his hand because it was such an important life event for me,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote on a picture he tweeted of himself and Lewis. “John Lewis’ stature in the Civil Rights Movement was gigantic and the example he set for people like myself will endure.
“I’m glad that he got to see the efforts of his past sixty years of activism bear such precious fruit these last few months as people took to the streets, just as he had, to fight for a just and free America.”
Over the last few months, there have been nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25. The Black Lives Matter movement has gained worldwide attention and there are widespread calls to end systemic racism.
LeBron James, who recently helped found a nonprofit called More Than A Vote to help end Black voter suppression, thanked Lewis in a Twitter post: “Rest. In. Paradise John Lewis. #CivilRightsICON✊🏾 THANK YOU!! 🙏🏾“
Jared Dudley tweeted: “RIP! 🙏🏽 Thank you for everything Mr.Lewis”
Dudley retweeted a video by CBS in which Lewis wrote and read a letter to himself about his life experiences.
For over three decades, Lewis served as the US representative for Georgia's 5th Congressional District. He was a lifelong activist and a brilliant orator. Lewis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest honor bestowed on a civilian - from former President Barack Obama.
James Worthy also tweeted about how he’ll always remember Lewis’ wisdom.
“Lost a great American civil rights Icon today," Worthy wrote. "So many VALUABLE lessons learned from this GREAT man. His words & the way he lived will ALWAYS be remembered . Rest In Peace brother John. ✌🏾“
Worthy also tweeted this quote from Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. Our children and their children will ask us ’What did you do? What did you say?'” RIP John Lewis."
One of Lewis’ most famous quotes was about getting in “good trouble.”
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair," he said. "Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
