Rep. John Lewis to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis will be given the nation's highest civilian honor from President Barack Obama today. Lewis was born the son of southern sharecroppers and went on to organize lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, and later spoke at the 1963 March on Washington before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1965, Lewis led the march from Selma to Montgomery to petition for voting rights. He has been a Georgia congressman since 1987. When the 70-year-old Lewis learned he would be among this year's honorees, he said he was nearly moved to tears.

Shortly after the election of Barack Obama, Rep. Lewis spoke with Brian Williams about the significance of the event, both personally and historically. You can watch the interviews below:

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Phyllis Kunz

And now we have this segregationist Rand Paul representing us in the Senate and thinks business owners

in Kentucky have the right to refuse service to African Americans, which distresses me.

#1 - Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:28 AM EST

Dave, Tn-1853132

Did you get that spin on what Rand Paul said from some evil Progressive Corporate owned news station that employees white race baitiers making millions of dollars a year to lie to America?
Bet if you asked him (and he may have even said so in the interview) he thinks an African American should be able to refuse service to a white person (or any other color that makes up our once melting pot) I'm so tired of the arrogant hateful dividers in New York bahahahahaha

#1.1 - Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:45 AM EST

Phyllis Kunz

Rand Paul is the weirdest guy to come down the pike. I am so tired of him and he hasn't even warmed

up his senate seat. His racist mentality is affecting some in Kentucky and it's scary. I wish there

would before a special election before November, and he would be replaced.

#1.2 - Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:04 PM EST

jackierawlings

History is to learn from so the same mistakes are repeated. I love reading American history the good and bad. I was taught to remember the time was different and the struggle many people had. This country was founded by those who didn't like the rule of the King. The wealthy came with their riches and others came with hopes of the dream. As we hear many dwell on the slave stage while not realizing it was common all over the World. I remember but learned in the years during the Civil Rights struggle. Lewis had a great teacher in Dr. King. It's funny how time changes people as some learn they were wrong and do much to correct the pass while others don't and leave here to never learn. Some many unsound hero's of all races made what we see today possible. Few continue to bring back the pass and some are taught hate/racism/prejudice. But our struggles for a perfect nation has spread all over the World as we watched in Egypt. Leaders don't have to invade countries to remove a dictator the people will do that. I really didn't understand at the time that I was living history with a front set of change. Lewis has done a great job in working for the better of the USA. I will never forget President Kennedy telling young minorities like myself that this was my country to and I had a responsibility to take care and work for my country as it grew.

#2 - Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:34 PM EST

Phyllis Kunz

Jackie, you are so right about learning from history but I muss fess up that I flunked history but either

Russia or France supported our Revolution and the rest is history. Phyllis

#3 - Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:06 AM EST