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Don Lemon Tonight

Martin Luther King III: John Lewis "Gave A Voice To The Voiceless"; Pelosi: John Lewis Was A Titan Of The Civil Rights Movement Whose Goodness, Faith And Bravery Transformed Our Nation; Bill Clinton: John Lewis Gave All He Had To Redeem America's Unmet Promise of Equality And Justice For All; Representative John Lewis A Giant In The History Of Civil Rights, Has Died. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired July 18, 2020 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lewis growing up was angered by the unfairness of the - he credited Martin Luther King Junior for inspiring of joining the Civil Rights Movement. And eventually Lewis would become one of the most prominent leaders.

As a student, he organized sit-ins at lunch counters. In the early '60s, he was a freedom rider challenging segregation at interstate bus terminals across the south. The embodiment of nonviolence, he frequently suffered beatings by angry mobs. Lewis, 23-years-old at the time, was the youngest speaker at the 1963 march on Washington.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not want our freedom gradually. But we want to be free now.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then, two years later, led a march for voting rights in Selma. On the Edmund Pettus Bridge he and the marchers were met by heavily armed local police they were set up on and were beaten. Lewis suffering a fractured skull it would forever be remembered as bloody Sunday.

But the images of brutality shocked the nation. Galvanizing support for the Voting Rights Act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. Lewis never lost his young, activist spirit taking it from protest to politics. Standing up for what he believed was right, Lewis was arrested more than 40 times by police, according to his congressional office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm on my way, and we are going to win this race.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was selected as City Council in Atlanta. Then to Congress in Washington, representing Georgia's 5th district fighting against poverty and for healthcare, while working to help younger generations by improving education, he reached out to young people in other ways co-writing a series of graphic novels about the Civil Rights Movement winning him a National Book Award.

In the life of so many moments and great achievements, it was the achievement of another, in 2008 that, perhaps, meant the most, the election of President Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A dream, Lewis admits, was too impossible to consider decades before even as he fought to forge its foundation.

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REP. JOHN LEWIS (D-GA), CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: This is an unbelievable period in our history. Martin Luther King Junior would be very pleased to see what is happening in America. This is a long way from the march on Washington. It's a great distant from marching across that bridge in Selma, in 1965, for the right to vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In 2011 after more than 50 years in the front lines of Civil Rights, Lewis received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom placed around his neck, by America's First Black President. Lewis wasn't content at just making history. He was also dedicated to preserving it.

Consider the impetus of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American history and culture. And he never stopped stirring up good trouble, as he liked to call it. Boycotting the inaugurations of George W. Bush after the contested 2000 election and vocally opposing Donald Trump in 2017, citing suspicions of Russian election meddling.

At a protest against President Trump's immigration police the Congressman, by then elder statesman of the Democratic Party, riled up the crowd with words he had lived by as an activist, as a lawmaker, as a leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWIS: We must never, ever give up. We must be brave, bold and courageous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: So here's our breaking news tonight. Congressman John Lewis, one of the leaders of the civil rights movement, who went on to serve more than 30 years in Congress, has died after a six-month battle with cancer. Joining me now is Bakari Sellers and Douglas Brinkley. Hello to both of you. How you doing, Bakari?

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's been a tough day with both CT Vivian and John Lewis. Our heroes around us are dying. And so, my heart goes out to this entire country. Usually, you send condolences to the family and friends of, but we all knew John Lewis.

And he's been a part of our lives for a long period of time. And so, it hurts. Today is a sad day. But we're going to lift him up, in celebration and joy. I can't wait for his home-going celebration. It's going to be one of pure, pure joy celebrating a man who's given us so much.

And Don, let me just say real quick I was just looking at a picture in 1966. I just posted it on my twitter account. I - it was my dad and John Lewis. They were getting bailed out of jail by Sydney Portier and Harry Belafonte. They were causing good trouble. Willie Ricks and James Foreman were there.

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SELLERS: And it just harkens back to a day when those true heroes are the reason that Don Lemon has a primetime show and Bakari Sellers can be on it.

LEMON: Yep. So, Doug - Doug, where - so his legacy? Where is - talk to me about - sorry, I can't believe - I just - I can't believe that I'm reporting this. But talk to me about the legacy that he is - he is leaving behind one, perhaps, as big as - as a President or Head of State.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN HISTORY COMMENTATOR: Absolutely. I mean, he was the Gandhi of America. People have been calling him the conscience of Congress. But he was much more than that. He was a teacher, an educator, a lover. You know, we talk about him being a son of the south, growing up in Troy, Alabama and having sharecropper parents.

And all of the brutality that John Lewis faced Don being arrested, beaten. You know, he transformed people. Later in life, he would always tell little kids, or somebody like myself, you know, touch my head. He wanted to feel. There's this big dent and touch it. That's where it was.

But he always believed in the power of love, and not hate and redemption. And so, when he was able to eventually get an apology from a Former KKK, you know, police guy, who ended up beating him. Lewis accepted his apology and they hugged because he believed in the power to heal.

So we're talking about somebody as big as Frederick Douglas and as Martin Luther King Junior and Rosa Parks. John Lewis is just an American giant. Somebody who believed in a King's philosophy of nonviolence has been relevant for decades he is loved in this congressional 5th District of Atlanta, who elected him time and time again. And he believed in this country and the power to heal but stood by principles. As was mentioned, the boycotting of inaugurations which was a controversial thing to do. All of the grassroots Black Lives Matter activists out there, he is their - their leader. He is their soul.

Because he's never stopped being a person of the streets, and a person willing to protest, for what he thought was right dissent for John Lewis a mighty thing to do in the cause of justice and righteousness. And this will be treated as - as a death of a President would be because John Lewis is - is just larger than life, and his legacy will grow and grow and grow.

LEMON: Bakari, it's - you know, I said earlier, when you were in John Lewis's presence, you were aware that you were in the presence of a - of a living legend. And I know it's a cliche when people say this but it really is true. When you - when you meet him and I'm sure this was for kids on up to, you know, people of all ages and of all backgrounds.

He made you feel like you were the only person in the room. The only person who - who mattered and when he spoke to you, he looked you dead in the eye, and he meant it, right?

SELLERS: Yes. You know, people forget how long John Lewis has been in this game of justice and fighting for equality. I think he was 23 years old, if I'm not mistaken. He was the youngest speaker at the march on Washington.

You know, his relationship in SNCC with Miriam Barry with Julian Bond, John Lewis was a student of Ala Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer. There's just so much that encompasses who this man is today and not only that but continuously speaking out, even as he's dying, against Governor Kemp and Donald Trump.

And just saying that they are the antithesis of what he believed to be true American values. And I've said something on this network often. I've said it on your show before. But, a lot of times, we confuse prejudice and patriotism.

I want people watching this, Democrat, Republican, black, white, doesn't matter where you're from to understand that the essence of the American story is John Lewis. John Lewis's blood literally runs through the soil of this country. John Lewis was beaten.

John Lewis lost loved ones, along the way. But he never stopped being a north star. He never stopped fighting for justice. He never stopped being that conscience of this country. And John Lewis also realized something that other people take for granted, as we're having this reckoning on race.

He also realized that the election of Barack Obama wasn't the end or culmination of - of justice in this country.

[00:10:00] SELLER: But, instead, the beginning of where we need to go. And so, tonight is - tonight is a tough night. However, we have so much to celebrate, Don. And, you know, we've, unfortunately, done a few funerals together on TV. But you just know that, that Atlanta music.

You just know that Atlanta whooping they going to do in that church down there and the sermon they're going to have when they lay him to rest is going to be something that I just can't wait to be a part of, as there's so much to celebrate in the life of John Lewis.

LEMON: Gentlemen, will you stand by? I want to get to Congressman Andrew Young, who joins us, by phone. Congressman, thanks for joining. I want say good evening to you but it's not a good evening. How are you doing?

ANDREW YOUNG, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, FORMER US CONGRESSMAN: Well, it is. You know, going home is always good. You got to die, too, so you just as well get ready and live a good life so that you - you ready when your time comes.

You know not the day, nor the hour. And I don't think anybody has spent 80 more fruitful years on earth, than John Lewis. And I think he did it almost by the book. And when I say by the book, he did it by the Bible. I mean, he was started out in life preaching to chickens.

And he went to see Dr. King when he was about 15. And from 15 to 18, he devoted his life, almost totally, to the service and sacrifice of - for others. And this country's better and the city's better the Congress. I don't know anybody in the Congress, in all the years that I have been around Congress.

I don't know anybody that is respect respected by more people than John Lewis because I've never seen John Lewis angry. I've never seen John Lewis, you know, short tempered. He always understands, he's always determined but he's always - he demonstrates what I call the power of humility.

And he, more than anybody I know, doesn't have a trace of arrogance or, you know, hubris about him. He's genuinely humble. And he uses - well, I don't know - is - is so genuine, he wins you over. He might not have the best argument, but he will quietly say the same thing, over and over again. And you come around to realize the spiritual power of what he's saying.

And so, that's been the secret that very few members of Congress understand. And very few people - Jimmy Carter has some of that in him. You know, and people always underestimate those with humility.

LEMON: I remember, back in 2009, Congressman, I did an interview with John Lewis and Elwin Wilson. Do you know who I am talking about? Elwin Wilson was the KKK, the Former Ku Klux Klan Member, who beat John Lewis bloody.

And then, later, the two men came together, later in life. John Lewis forgave him, after Elwin Wilson apologized. It took a really - it takes a special kind of person to be able to do that, after someone beats you bloody.

YOUNG: Well, no, it doesn't. John Lewis was the kind of person that did that all the time. I mean, you could abuse him in an argument, and he'd just smile and make you ashamed of yourself. And he would - he would demonstrate that there was power in a spiritual confrontation.

He never - he never had an argument, and that's why everybody thought that Julian Bond would be the Congressman because he was so articulate. But John would have simple, plain statements and then, when you come back at him with hostility or arrogance, he'd just sit there and smile.

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YOUNG: And many people underestimated that. In fact, all of us underestimates that but that, in his life, was a genuine power that helped change the world.

LEMON: I want - let me just read this, and I'm going to get your reaction to it, Congressman. This is - this is from Martin III, Martin Luther King III. And he said John Lewis was an American treasure. He gave a voice to the voiceless, and he reminded each of us that the most powerful, nonviolent tool is the vote. Our hearts feel empty without our friend, but we find comfort knowing that he is free, at last. Again, that's a tweet from Martin III. You all went through a lot together, didn't you?

YOUNG: We did. And - but we enjoyed it. I mean, it's - we were not sad. But I mean the only time I got beat up was down in St. Augustine. And the thing that amazed me, when I saw it years later on film, was that I remember that I didn't even have a headache. I didn't have a pain.

And it happened twice, on two different corners. And there was no - I mean, there was nothing for me to be angry about because, you know, we - we got the Civil Rights Bill passed, largely because the Klan beat us and we refused fight back.

And when they came marching down the streets in the black community and trying to provoke an attack, people started singing, I love everybody in my heart. And it was just - it was different - it was a different approach to life. And John symbolized and demonstrated that spiritual power in life, as well as anybody I know. And over - over a longer period of time than anybody I know.

LEMON: Listen. I know that you disagree with me when I say it takes a special kind of person. But I don't know if I could have done what John Lewis did, and not fight back. Where does - where does that come from?

YOUNG: Yes, you could.

LEMON: I would hope that I could but I'm not so sure. But where does that come from, Congressman?

YOUNG: No, I assure you - I assure you, you could. When you are outnumbered, 15, 20, to one, you will cover your head and take your whipping. And get back up. And you won't be - even be angry about it because you'll be so proud of yourself for having, you know, stood up to them.

You get what - what we used to call a freedom high. And, you know, you come back from a demonstration, and everybody would be singing and shouting. And it was - that's why it's hard to stop movements. Because people get this freedom high, and they feel so empowered because they're introduced to a new power. They're introduced to the power of the spirit.

And you realize that the power of the spirit can overcome the violence of this world and the arrogance of this world. That humility is, in its own way, a power factor that most people do not know how to deal with.

LEMON: Congressman, I want you to stand by. But I want you to listen to something that's very important because Congressman Lewis never stopped fighting for what he believes in. I want you to take a listen to this. This is from the 50th Anniversary of the march on Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWIS: We must say to the Congress, fix the Voting Rights Act. We must say to the Congress, pass comprehensive immigration reform. It doesn't make sense that many of our people are living in the shadow. Bring them out into the light, and set them on a path to citizenship.

So hang in there! Keep the faith. I got arrested 40 times during the '60s. Beaten, left bloody, and unconscious. But I'm not tired. I'm not weary. I'm not prepared to sit down and give up. I am ready to fight and continue to fight, and you must fight!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He never, ever gave up fighting, Congressman, you, as well.

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YOUNG: And it was - it was a spiritual fight. He was - he was a spiritual warrior. And you got that from Martin Luther King, also. In fact, you see it in ordinary people that are cleaning our streets and emptying the bedpans in these hotels now.

It's part of - its part of the - the thing that has helped black people survive the oppression of slavery and segregation and - and even prosperity and pain because it was engrained in us by our parents and grandparents.

LEMON: Congressman, thank you. I hope you're doing okay, and - and your family and you're all staying safe.

YOUNG: I'm doing fine. And I watch your show, and I enjoy you.

LEMON: I miss you. I don't live in Atlanta anymore. You know that. I used to see you more often. I miss seeing you. YOUNG: I know.

LEMON: And if I didn't, this wasn't going on I swear I would come down to see you this weekend. But you take care of yourself. And I hope to see you soon.

YOUNG: Oh, Carolyn said, my wife said, that she will never forget the graduation speech.

LEMON: At Clark Atlanta. Yes. I think that was two years ago.

YOUNG: I was not there but she came home and preached it for me.

LEMON: Please, tell her I say hello and give her my love. I can hear her in the background.

YOUNG: Oh, okay, God bless you.

LEMON: God bless you, too. And you take care. I just want to read this from - this is from Bernice King, Dr. Martin Luther King junior's daughter. She is tweeting, she said farewell, sir. You did, indeed, fight the good fight and get into a lot of good trouble. You served good and humanity well. Thank you. Take your rest. #johnlewis. And she posted a beautiful picture.

That's a great tribute, Bernice King, if you're watching. Thank you, so much, for that. And please, call in. We'd love to speak to you regarding this. I want to get, now, to CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. She joins me now. Suzanne thank you for joining us. What can you tell us about Congressman Lewis's passing?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN HOST, AROUND THE WORLD: Well, you know, Don, it's - it's so nice to be with you because I feel like I'm in Atlanta, and it's so great to hear from Andy Young. And just - just to hear from Bernice King and everybody, and just the time that we spent together in Atlanta.

You know, it was amazing that Congressman John Lewis. I mean, he wasn't just inspirational. But he was always relevant and always current. He was always on the scene, on the streets. No matter where we were. And I mean, just recently, he was just at Black Lives Matter plaza in Washington, D.C. and granted he did not look the same as he had before.

He was a little bit frail, a little bit thinner. But his presence was larger than life, and he was out there on the street. And really, just offering a sense of the past but, also, really a nod to the present to the Black Lives Matter movement.

And one of the favorite stories, one of his favorite stories that he used to tell, was about the time when, you know, he was the Chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, SNCC. And it was back in 1963 when he, as a young, very young, 23-year-old, Civil Rights Leader, was up against the older, the old-guard civil rights guys.

You know, the guys like A. Phillip Randolph and he had a different view of what he wanted from that - the - the legislation. You know the civil rights legislation. And it was that - the night the meeting before the "I have a dream" speech for Martin Luther King and he was one of the speakers.

That he had words with A. Phillip Randolph about how it didn't go far enough. And he was going to criticize and get up there in front of, you know, the thousands of people. And talk about how, hey, this isn't good enough for us, man. And - and he listened to his elders. And they - they convinced him that, hey, you know what?

You don't need to speak out about this publicly, now. We can all come to a point where we're in agreement and in so many ways, represented kind of the Black Lives Matter movement that we see today. And that there is always going to be - it's completely normal, you know, the tension you have between the young folks who want to push, push, push, and make it happen fast.

The older people, who are trying their best and - and the fact that, you know, he had that respect for his elders. And yet, he could just take a blow and take a blow and take a blow. And I mean, it was just one of the best stories that - that really I'd ever heard from him.

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MALVEAUX: And the last time that I - that I saw him, really when I was on the Hill covering a story, was around the whole separation of children and their parents the immigrant children from their parents. And he was so outspoken about this.

I have a little cell phone interview that I did with him, right there outside the Capitol. This is back in 2018. Where he said, you know, it was his hope that the President would use his powers and his pen to end this separation policy. That he really felt that it was the President's responsibility.

That he was using what, in his own words, he said, Don, that he was using these babies, these children, as a political weapon. And he said to me, we don't need walls, we need bridges. And he - he spoke out so - so strongly against that.

And he was just such a relevant force just in the years, just the past years being on the Hill speaking out against the kind of immoral policies that we have seen, regarding immigrant children and regarding so many of the things that have really vilified so many different - different groups of people.

That was something that he - he stood up for. And he talked, as recently as just months ago, about the killing of George Floyd. And how he was so proud of the people who demonstrated in Atlanta for the peaceful protests the children, the young men and women who went out there? And he said that they were prepared to get out there and say enough is enough. And so, in that sense, he really just--

LEMON: Suzanne, we have what you just - you just mentioned and I want to play it for our viewers to be able to hear it. Let's listen.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWIS: The way this young man died watching the video. It - it made me so sad so painful. It made me cry. I kept saying to myself, how many more? How many more young black men will be murdered? That the madness must stop.

It was very moving, very moving, to see hundreds and thousands of people from all over America and around the world takes to the streets to speak up, to speak out. To get in, what I call, good trouble.

And because of the action of young and old, white, Latino, Asian- American, and Native American because people cried and prayed people would never, ever forget what happened and how it happened?

And it's my hope that we are on our way to greater change to respect the dignity and the worth of every human being. And it doesn't matter their color or their background or whether they're male or female, gay or straight. We have come to that point and said we're one people. We're one family. We all live in the same house. Not just American house but the world house.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

LEMON: An icon, a giant in the history of civil rights and beyond. John Lewis, dead at the age of 80, we're back right after this.

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LEMON: This is our sad, breaking news tonight, the death of Congressman John Lewis, at the age of 80. And I want to read a statement that's in from the family tonight.

The statement reads it is with inconsolable grief and enduring sadness that we announce the passing of U.S. Representative John Lewis. He was honored and respected as a conscience of the U.S. Congress, and an icon of American history. But we knew him as a loving father and brother.

He was a stalwart champion in the ongoing struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being. He dedicated his entire life to nonviolent activism, and was an outspoken advocate for the struggle for equal justice in America. He will be deeply missed.

Indeed, he will. Congressman Cedric Richmond joins me now from my home State of Louisiana. Congressman, thank you so much. How are you doing?

REP.CEDRIC RICHMOND (D-LA): I'm doing fine. I mean, it - it's a challenging moment. He was more than just a mentor and a colleague. I mean, he was somebody who I read about in textbook, as American hero made it a more perfect union. Took a beating so that I could have the right to vote, without knowing how many bubbles in a bar of soap or how many jelly beans in a-- LEMON: Jar.

RICHMOND: --in a jar and so then to get to Congress and serve with him and to learn from him. And, you know, John was just one of those people that took you under his wing. And he loved everybody. And so, it's just - it's a difficult moment. And even though we knew it was coming, it doesn't make it any easier.

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RICHMOND: Because, you know, he was just that guy. I mean, did a school report on John Lewis for kindergarten and called him an American hero, and talked about what he did. And John bumped into us at the Capitol and recited it for him. And next thing I know, John sent him the "Life Magazine" cover signed.

He was just that guy. He cares about the next generations. He didn't care about himself. He didn't care about politics. He didn't care about fame or fortune. He cared about making a difference, and so he lived a purpose-driven life. And it's going to be a void that's hard to fill.

LEMON: Talk to me more because, you know, you said you read about him in textbooks. So did I. But I didn't get the chance - listen, I got to meet him and interview him and spend time with him. But I didn't get a chance to work alongside work alongside him. Did you ever, in a million years, think you would be working with John Lewis?

RICHMOND: No, Don. There were many times that I had to pinch myself. And just realize where I was and what I was doing, and how important it was? And I'll tell you this story because I think it's so relevant to today and the Black Lives Matter movement.

But we are on our way to the Black Caucus we were on our way to the preview of the King Memorial. And Reverend Jesse Jackson hitched a ride with us. He wanted to go. And so, it was funny. You know me on the back of the bus with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jim Clyburn, John Lewis, Emanuel Cleaver, Benny Thompson and other civil rights leaders.

And my first joke is why we on the back of the bus are? And they were like, it was a bad choice. And the second part was to hear John talk about one of the meetings they had with Lyndon Johnson where they were talking about the Voting Rights Act.

And Lyndon Johnson was like, look, I just can't do it but I need y'all to go out there and make me do it. And that reminds me where we are with Black Lives Matter? They - their energy, their passion, their commitment it will make us reform this country.

And so, that was John Lewis. And I heard Suzanne talk about his original texts at the march on Washington. I want you to know, everybody really, to go Google his original text versus the text - compared to the text that he actually delivered.

His original text had language that, if we don't get what we want, we'll march through the south. So John was the activist of his time. And the youngest speaker to march on Washington and, by far, probably the most militant speaker to march on Washington but the other story, and I'll just tell you is, John tells this story about him always wanting to be a preacher.

He used to preach in the chickens in his yard. That was vintage John Lewis because I was sitting there like, man, what did you do? And he was like, well, I didn't have anybody else to preach to, so I would preach to the chickens. So maybe under ask Jim Clyburn and some of the others about that story. But I will tell you, it was hard to keep a straight face during that one.

LEMON: There's - there's so many things that we - I want to play of him. So let's listen, now, him at the march on Washington and then, we'll talk. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWIS: Be patient and wait. We must say we cannot be patient. We do not want our freedom gradually. But we want to be free now. We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our men locked up in jail over and over again.

How long can we be patient? We want our freedom, and we want it now. We do not want to go to jail. But we will go to jail, if this is the price we must pay for love, brotherhood, and true peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: hmm. There - there you go. You said he was the protestor's protestor. Is that how you described him?

RICHMOND: No, he was the - he was the militant activist of his day. And just because he was mild-mannered, I don't want anybody to think that that was equivalent to passive. John was, you know, he was aggressive. And I just implore anybody and everybody to go read that original text. But what he, also, was, was pragmatic.

[00:40:00]

RICHMOND: And he deferred to A. Phillip Randolph. And when I talked to him, he said he changed the speech because of his respect for A. Phillip Randolph and the movement. And he didn't want to - he didn't want to be the story, at the end of the day.

So he changed his - his speech, for that reason. And that - that was John Lewis. It wasn't about him. It was about purpose. It was about the cause. And so, he always exhibited that, my entire nine and a half years in congress, so far.

LEMON: It's interesting. I was just talking to Bakari moments ago. And we were talking about the people we lost. When he is giving that speech at the march on Washington, you see Byrod Rustin behind him. He's gone, now John Lewis is gone. Obviously, Dr. King is gone.

And speaking of Dr. King, I need to get to his daughter. So, I'm going to let you go, Cedric. Thank you very much. I appreciate you talking to us this evening, and we'll see you soon. He will be missed in the Congress, absolutely.

Bernice King is here. How you doing, Bernice? Thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it, sad night?

REVEREND BERNICE KING, DAUGHTER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: It is very sad, and I have a very heavy heart, as so many people do on this day. Hello?

LEMON: Yes. We can hear you, Bernice.

KING: Oh, okay. I - you know, this morning, CT Vivian tonight, Congressman John Lewis, who my family affectionately calls Uncle John. And, you know, as I think about it, I think it's sending a very loud message to this nation that we've got to get it right with the Voting Rights Act.

And with voting, in general you know - my hope and prayer is that this will send a signal to Congress that it's time to restore Voting Rights Act. These two men, literally, sacrificed their lives for - for - for preserving voting rights. And both of them beat on the Head in Selma, Alabama.

One on the steps at the courthouse by Sheriff Jim Clark and the other one, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge and so, it's a time for us to get that right. And it's a time for those who have been indifferent and cynical about voting in this nation, to really understand that people sacrificed and suffered and died.

Many people died. Some people died. But these men, these gentlemen, sacrificed their very lives. Almost lost their lives for the right to vote and so, that's our citizenship right and it's a right we should exercise with dignity. And - and - and - and we must fight voter suppression.

And, you know, do away with it. But, Don, you know, John Lewis was one of very few people who really remained consistent and true to my father's nonviolent philosophy. He was a true nonviolent warrior, through and through.

And a very pure heart, there are very few pure-hearted people in this world. And he was a pure-hearted man. You know, his only motive was to stand up for what was right to - to speak for those who could not speak for themselves. It was never about him. It was always about the struggle, the cause, and justice and freedom. And, you know, we lost these kinds of leaders. We're losing them.

LEMON: Yes. Bernice, I want to - listen, considering who you are, who your father was? I think it's appropriate to play this moment, and get your reaction. This is John Lewis. Getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the First Black President, February 15th, 2011, let's play it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: All these years later, he is known as the conscience of the United States Congress still, speaking his mind on issues of justice and equality. And generations from now, when parents teach their children what is meant by courage, the story of John Lewis will come to mind. 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?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[00:45:00]

LEMON: Hmm, that moment, Bernice, it gave me chills. And that, not only meant, I'm sure, a whole heck of a lot to John Lewis but, it meant a lot to the world. To see this, in a way, a passing of the torch and then passing it back. Do you know what I mean?

KING: Yes, I know exactly what you mean. And often when I am talking around this nation and the world and I - I speak about one of my father's principles of nonviolence that we teach at the King Center. Unearned suffering is redemptive.

I always talk about John Lewis and what happened to him on that bridge. He - he didn't even know couldn't even imagine that he would, one day, serve in Congress, first of all when he was fighting for that right. And not only that, serving under the first African-American President and serving under him, for two terms that's what you call unearned suffering being redemptive. And he epitomized it.

LEMON: Bernice. Bernice, thank you. Thank you so much. It means a lot that you called in to share your thoughts on this.

KING: Thank you.

LEMON: And my thoughts are with your family as well because I know he is a very good friend of your family and as you call him, Uncle John. You take care of yourself. You be safe. And hopefully, I can see you soon, once - once this is all over.

KING: Yes. And rest in peace, Uncle John.

LEMON: Rest in peace. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:50:00]

LEMON: Here's our breaking news tonight and the nation mourning the death of Congressman John Lewis at the age of 80, a giant in the civil rights movement who by own counts was arrested more than 40 times during his days of activism.

He was the son of sharecroppers, and went on to serve more than 30 years in Congress. He passed today after a six-month battle with cancer. I want to bring in now Dana Bash and April Ryan. But first Dana Bash had an extraordinary interview with John Lewis on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the 53rd Anniversary of Selma. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is sacred. This is hallowed. Some people gave blood on this bridge.

DANA BASH, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: 53 years after you all marched on this bridge, why is it so important to come back, and keep coming back every year?

LEWIS: This is the place that gave us the Voting Rights Act made it possible for hundreds and thousands of millions of people to be able to participate in a Democratic process.

BASH: You led a movement of young people back in the Civil Rights Movement. There's a new organic movement of young people, begging Washington, begging their local leaders for change. What do you see in the new movement?

LEWIS: Well, I see so much hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: It was March 7th, 1965, that John Lewis marched across this bridge on bloody Sunday. He got to the other side. And he was met by a Billy Club. But every year, almost every year since, he's been walking across, bringing people from all stripes, from all parties, all races and religions to come here to experience this with him.

He's got a Republican leader on his left. He's got a Democratic Senator on his right. Just listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, John Lewis! Thank you, John Lewis!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

APRIL RYAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It takes a John Lewis to bring us all together, and just to remind us that progress, you know, is elusive. Every generation has to fight for it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Compromise is the hallmark of America. That's how we came to be a country, and we somehow lost the ability to do that in certain issues. I think it's inspiration to go back from here to Washington and say, okay, let's try again. It may take several times before we get the compromise.

RYAN: For young people who are just learning about your dad, what is the most important thing for them to take away?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I think the most important thing is to understand the concept of nonviolence. Many are very, very proud of the young people in parkland, who a leading, not following and waiting for something to happen.

RYAN: This three-day civil rights pilgrimage not only crossed party lines, it crossed generations. Teenagers also came on this journey. Charlotte was one of them. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How can we wrestle with our parents in a way that is respectful, so we can aid them in seeing that normal children can fight in the movement and fight for justice as well?

LEWIS: Tell them that you've been touched by the spirit of history.

BASH: As someone who successfully led a movement as a young person, what is your number one bit of advice for the young people protesting and marching this month?

[00:55:00]

LEWIS: Just give it all you've got. And I get weary. Be hopeful, be optimistic, and take a long, hard look. We had some difficulties. They will have some difficulties. They will have some setbacks. But you can't give up. You can't give in. You will make it, and they will lead us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: John Lewis there with our Dana Bash. You see April there, but Dana joins us by phone. Dana, what a special interview that was two years ago, for the 53rd Anniversary of the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge?

And this was that interview you did with him was just during the time that the Parkland children, I should say, the students, rather, were marching. And he was iconic for them.

RYAN: Absolutely. And that was one of the, you know, countless things that is just so remarkable about John Lewis. That is that he truly was a living legend. It defined him and explained who he was more than anybody I can even think of.

You heard Congressman Richmond talking about the fact that his son read about him in the history books, but got to meet him. My son's third grade class, as soon as they heard he was sick, they wrote him letters because everybody knew who he was. And it's because he touched them, and we saw in this pilgrimage that I attended with him, he did scores of times in an attempt to get everyone together.

He really wanted to continue to reach out to young people, for them to understand not just what he went through, but to emulate that. And the fact that he got to witness the Black Lives Matter movement, the revolution, and got to participate in it and go down to that area here in Washington, D.C., where I am, is remarkable.

One other quick thing I want to note, because I've been going back and looking at the transcripts for my discussions with him. The other thing about John Lewis was he was very big on forgiveness. Pretty amazing, given the fact that he went through so much, he almost got beaten to death on that bridge Selma.

That he forgave George Wallace, the Governor who ordered people to club him. He told the story to me in that trip about the fact that he was beaten bloody by the KKK on a bus ride.

LEMON: And forgave him.

BASH: Exactly. They came to his office when he was a Congressman, and he said, we want your forgiveness, and he said, yes, I will forgive you.

LEMON: And Dana, I remember, I interviewed them both in 2009 at CNN, and it was just an amazing - they had become friendly. I have a short time left. I want to get to April. April, listen, you worked at the White House. You had many encounters with John Lewis. Before we go, can you please give us your thoughts?

RYAN: Since about 9:00 pm this evening, I've had tears in my eyes, as a human being and a black person who would not be who she is if not for John Lewis and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior and the other Lieutenants and Dr. Martin Luther King.

I think about what Cedric Richmond, Congressman Richmond said, Minister Bernice King said that he was about peace. He talked about nonviolence. I remember an occasion when I was very upset about something news-wise. He said, when you talk, you go about it nonviolently.

We laughed, but that's who he was. He wanted us to keep that to move the ball forward, but to keep the nonviolence because he knew - and he wanted to impart on us that that is what would get us to the next level?

And I think about my intimate time that I had with him, writing at my book "Mom's Knee" where he discussed how he was considering the boy from Troy? He was called the boy from Troy from Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. But he wanted to go to Troy state.

He would have been the first black person to be a student at Troy state. And Dr. King let him and his family know look, we can get you there. But there's a cost. You would lose your 100 acres of land, you're house will be barn and he chose not to go, to save his family. But he kept on marching. And he did - his mother didn't want him to march, but he marched because of her faith--

LEMON: April, our time is short. Thank you so much. I appreciate it April and thank you very much Dana Bash. And I'm just going to leave you with the words from Congressman John Lewis's family. He was a stalwart champion in the ongoing struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being.