Former president, Barack Obama eulogized the civil rights icon and his personal hero, John Lewis on Thursday.
President Obama celebrated Lewis’ activism and his fight to ensure that every American, especially black Americans have the right to vote. During his speech, Obama spoke about public officials “who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting.”
Even though he did not mention any names, it was pretty clear who he was talking about in his speech.
“We may no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot, but even as we sit here there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restricted I.D. laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision even undermining the postal service in the run-up to an election that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick,” Obama said.
He received a standing ovation from attendees at the funeral for his remarks on voting rights.
“John spent his life defending the attacks on democracy we witness circulating right now. If we want our children to grow up in a democracy … to be a part of tolerant inclusive America, we‘re going to have to be more like John.”
Watch the speech below from WCNC:
President Barack Obama’s eulogy at John Lewis funeral
