Civil rights icon John Lewis relationship with Nashville over the years (2024)

Black demonstrators, including Kenneth Frazier and John Lewis, center, sit-in at the closed counter of the downtown Woolworth's store as the Nashville Police moved in Feb. 27, 1960.

Black demonstrators, including John Lewis, center in light suit, are hustled out of McLellans Variety Store on Fifth Ave. N. downtown Nashville and off to jail after a four-hour demonstration against lunch counter segregation Feb. 27, 1960.

John Lewis, right, a student at American Baptist Theological seminary, talks to reporters at Nashville city jail March 25, 1960, after his arrest at the downtown Moon-McGrath drugstore lunch counter. Also arrested were O.D. Hunt, left, and Dennis Gregory Foote, students at Tennessee A&I State University.

City police Sgt. Morgan Smith, right, points in city court to the four students he arrested in Moon-McGrath Drug Store at March 25th's sit-in demonstrations. From left are Z. Alexander Looby, A.A. Birch, Avon Williams and C.L. Ennix, attorneys, and the students, Dennis Foote, Jean W. Fleming, O.D. Hunt and John Robert Lewis. The lawyers asked for the charges to be dismissed but the students were fined $10 each.

Students demonstrators James Bevel, left, and John Lewis, right, stand inside the insecticide fume-filled The Krystal lunch counter at 204 Fifth Ave., N., downtown Nashville Nov. 10, 1960, after the manager turned on a fumigating machine to disrupt their sit-in. The pair remained inside the restaurant for half an hour while it filled up with the dense cloud of non-toxic insect spray. They finally left when asked to do so by Asst. Fire Chief W.D. Gallaher, who was called by the police.

Gasping for breath, John Lewis stands inside the insecticide fume-filled The Krystal lunch counter at 204 Fifth Ave., N. downtown Nashville Nov. 10, 1960, after the manager turned on a fumigating machine to disrupt Lewis and fellow sit-in demonstrator James Bevel.

John Lewis, left, and three fellow sit-in demonstrators sit in a courtroom of the Nashville Court House Nov. 21, 1960, involving another trial of their protesting at the lunch counters in downtown Nashville.

Some of the 26 black college students begin to sing as they wait to load up in Nashville police wagons after being arrested for blocking a fire exit as they stand-in at the Tennessee Theater downtown Feb. 20, 1961. In the group are Lester McKinnie, center in white cap, and John Lewis, right.

Some of the 26 black college students, including John Lewis, third from right in front, faced a judge in Nashville City Court Feb. 21, 1961. They were arrested for blocking a fire exit as they stand-in at the Tennessee Theater the day before. Some of the attorneys aiding them are Coyness L. Ennix Sr., left, and Z. Alexander Looby.

One of the leaders, John Lewis, second from right, leads some of the 123 anti segregation demonstrators past the Paramount theater as they marched through downtown Nashville during a 75-minute stand-in at four Church Street theaters Feb. 24, 1961.

A group tried to see Tennessee Gov. Buford Ellington Sept. 8, 1961 to seek reinstatement of 14 "Freedom Riders" dismissed from Tennessee A & I State University in June after their convictions on breach of peace charges at Jackson, Miss. The group, including John Lewis, second from right, waited outside the governor's office, but Ellington left his office by a side door and didn't see the protesters.

John Lewis, center, one of the students leaders of the demonstrators, and another student walk by the Tic Toc restaurant on Church Street during a packed holiday crowd Nov. 24, 1961.

Black male students, a total of 24 and including John Lewis, sitting center, attempted to register at the Andrew Jackson Hotel and when they refused, sat down in the lobby for the night Feb. 1, 1962. Several white men attending a party in the ballroom, went to the balcony and shouted insults at the students. A couple of men tossed their drink over the rail into the lobby below.

Two employees of Herschel's Tic Toc restaurant, right, form a human barricade to block sit-in demonstrators, including local leader John Lewis, center, from entering the Church Street establishment Nov. 24, 1962. Nashville police department moved in with lightning-like speed to quell a series of incidents throughout the two-hour sit-ins.

Two Nashville Police officers carry the group's leader, John Lewis, to a waiting police paddy wagon after he failed to obey police orders to move away from the Herschel's Tic Toc restaurant Dec. 2, 1962.

John Lewis, chairman of the Nashville Non-violent Committee, is dropped to the street after he was arrest by Nashville Police as he and his group held a sit-in demonstration at the Herschel's Tic Toc restaurant Dec. 2, 1962. Lewis was arrested after failing to obey police orders to move away from the restaurant's entrance.

John Lewis, left, chairman of the local Non-Violent Committee, holds tightly on to his sign as a heckler reaches for him as Lewis and 12 others sit-in demonstrators try to get in the Herschel's Tic Toc restaurant on Church Street Dec. 8, 1962.

Demonstrators march in the vicinity of the downtown area March 23, 1963 to protest racial discrimination in Nashville. Holding the "Join the Freedom March" sign, is John Lewis, chairman of the Student Central Committee of the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, sponsors of the movement.

Anti-segregation demonstrators march in the vicinity of the downtown area March 23, 1963 to protest racial discrimination in Nashville. In the foreground left, with the "Freedom March" sign, is John Lewis, chairman of the Student Central Committee of the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, sponsors of the movement.

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, right, president of Nashville Christian Leadership Council and John Lewis, chairman of the Student Non-violence Committee of the NCLC, told a mass meeting of demonstrators May 10, 1963 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Jefferson St., not to protest in town until the outcome of the meeting between Nashville business officials and black leaders.

John Lewis, member of the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, sits in the street May 13, 1963, in protest of Nashville police arresting Lamar Richardson, a Fisk University student. The group was having a sit-in demonstration in front of the B & W Cafeteria.

Metro Mayor Beverly Briley, center, shakes hands with John Lewis, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, following a 90-minute meeting May 14, 1963. Lewis said the decision on future marches would depend on negotiations with the mayor's biracial committee.

As civil rights demonstrators prepare for a protest march April 29, 1964, members of the Black Muslims, left, sell their paper asking for separation. John Lewis, right, chairman of the integrationist National Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, lead the march.

A Metro police officer points his stick at John Lewis, left, one of the leaders of the civil rights demonstrators at Morrison's Cafeteria on West End Ave., April 29, 1964. Lewis was the first person of many to be arrested by the police.

Metro policemen grabbed John Lewis, center, one of the leaders of the civil rights demonstrators at Morrison's Cafeteria on West End Ave., April 29, 1964. Lewis was the first person of many to be arrested by the police.

John Lewis, national chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, gets pushed into the patrol wagon by Metro Police. Lewis was the first demonstrator arrested at Morrison's Cafeteria on West End Ave., April 29, 1964.

Paul Good, left center, ABC News' Southern bureau chief, interviews Lester McKinnie, center, and John Lewis at the sit-in demonstrators base of the First Baptist Church on 8th Ave. N., April 30, 1964. The group is getting ready march downtown to stop briefly at five restaurants on their way to the trials of demonstrators arrested earlier in the week.

Paul Good, left, ABC News' Southern bureau chief, interviews Lester McKinnie and John Lewis at the sit-in demonstrators base of the First Baptist Church on 8th Ave. N., April 30, 1964. The group is getting ready march downtown to stop briefly at five restaurants on their way to the trials of demonstrators arrested earlier in the week.

Lester McKinnie and John Lewis, center, two of the leaders of the sit-in demonstrators lead the march to stop briefly at one of the five restaurants on their way to the trials of demonstrators arrested earlier in the week.

The Rev. John Lewis, left, former head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, is speaking to students and faculty at the Vanderbilt University divinity school May 3, 1968 as dean of the school, Walter Harrellson, listens.

The Rev. John Lewis, center, answers some questions after speaking to the students and faculty of Vanderbilt University divinity school on campus May 3, 1968. Rev. Lewis was head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee until early 1966 when he was ousted in favor of Stokely Carmichael's more militant stance.

The Rev. John Lewis, left, commencement speaker at the American Theological Seminary, talks with Floyd Prude Jr., who graduated summa cum laude, and the Rev. Charles Boddie, president of the college, before the commencement May 28, 1973. The Rev. Lewis is executive director of the Voter Education Project, Inc. of Atlanta.

John Lewis, an Atlanta councilman, left, the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, and the Rev. C.T. Vivian, chairman of the national Anti-Klan Network, reminisce April 30, 1983 about their participation in the civil rights movement in Nashville two decades ago. Lewis and Rev. Vivian were in town for a homecoming weekend for the local NAACP chapter.

The casket of Rev. Kelly Miller Smith is leaving the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, June 7, 1984 after the service and heads for Greenwood Cemetery for burial. Coretta Scott King and John Lewis were at the services.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, center, of Atlanta, is receiving an honorary doctor-of-laws degree during Fisk University commencement ceremonies on campus May 14, 1990.

The Rev. James Lawson, left, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Diane Nash and Grafta Looby Westbrook admire a plaque commemorating the 1960s civil right struggle in Nashville April 19, 1995 at the Metro Courthouse. It was unveiled by the Rev. C.T. Vivian and Metro Mayor Phil Bredesen on the 35th anniversary of the day civil right leader Z. Alexander Looby's home was bombed.

John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center and chairman emeritus of The Tennessean, gets a hug from U. S. Rep John Lewis, D-Georgia, after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Tennessee Chapter of the A.C.L.U. Nov. 8, 1998. Their Association dates to 1961, when Lewis a young freedom rider, and Seigenthaler, then justice department, were beaten.

Nashville Pubic Library manager of special collections Dr. Sue Loper, left, consoles Congressman John Lewis after he became emotional after seeing his quote for the first time in the new Civil Rights Room at the library Feb. 14, 2004. His quote that hangs above the door of the Civil Rights Room states "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" John Lewis 1961.

Nashville attorney George E. Barrett, left, talks with State Senator Thelma Harper and Congressman John Lewis of Georgia at the Fifth Annual Davidson County Democratic Party Honors Dinner at the Hutton Hotel Aug. 1, 2009.

John Seigenthaler, left, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and Martha Cooper talk at the fifth annual Davidson County Democratic Party Honors Dinner at the Hutton Hotel August 1, 2009.

John Seigenthaler, right, is honored with the Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award during a Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel Nov. 8, 2012. US. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, second from right, spoke at the event. Seigenthaler's wife, Dolores and son, John, joined them on stage.

John Seigenthaler, left, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia converse at a Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel Nov. 8, 2012. Seigenthaler was honored with the Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award.

Georgia Congressman John Lewis is being interview by The Tennessean in his Washington, D.C.'s office Jan. 22, 2013.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who got his start in the civil rights movement as a college student in Nashville, talks about his Nashville memories of those times from the early 1960s Oct. 13, 2013. Lewis stands next to a historical maker at the former First Baptist Church which was headquarters for the sit-ins Civil Right movement.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who got his start in the civil rights movement as a college student in Nashville, talks about his Nashville memories of those times from the early 1960s Oct. 13, 2013. Lewis stands along 5th Ave where many lunch counter sit-ins happened, including Walgreens.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who got his start in the civil rights movement as a college student in Nashville, talks about his memories of those times from the early 1960s Oct. 13, 2013. Lewis, left, standing in front of the Walgreens on 5th Avenue when approached by Aaron Spaulding, who thanked Lewis for his service.

Congressman John Lewis addresses a crowd of hundreds about his life, civil rights activism and the need for young people to continue the movement started by the civil rights leaders before them. Lewis spoke Saturday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School in Nashville Nov. 18, 2016.

Metro Mayor Megan Barry, left, hugs Congressman John Lewis after presenting him with copies of his mug shots and arrest warrants from when he was a young Civil Rights activist, after he spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School in Nashville Nov. 18, 2017.

Congressman John Lewis looks over his mug shots and arrest warrants that Metro Mayor Meagan Barry gave him after he spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School in Nashville Nov. 18, 2017.

People gather for a vigil held in Legislative Plaza in honor of civil rights icons Congressman John Lewis and C.T. Vivian Sunday July 19, 2020.

The casket of civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman John Lewis is carried into Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church before his memorial service Saturday, July 25, 2020 in Selma, Ala..

Jackson Lewis Brewster, 7, great-nephew of John Lewis, speaks during "The Boy From Troy" memorial service celebrating the civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman at Trojan Arena July 25, 2020.

KK Middleton of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity leads a prayer as members sing songs after "The Boy From Troy" memorial service celebrating civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman John Lewis at Trojan Arena July 25, 2020 in Troy, Ala. Lewis was a member of Phi Beta Sigma.

Justin Carter of Valdosta, Ga., waits near the Edmund Pettus Bridge before a procession carrying the body of John Lewis via horse-drawn carriage July 26, 2020 in Selma, Ala.

The casket carrying U.S. Rep. and civil rights icon John Lewis crosses the Edmund Pettus Bridge during his celebration of life ceremonies on July 26 in Selma, Ala.