Contact: Chelsey Engel, (412) 212-5178, cengel@usw.org
“The USW is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
“His endless courage in the face of injustice is a reminder of what ordinary people can do in extraordinary times – though, one could easily argue Rep. Lewis was far beyond ordinary.
“Often referred to as ‘the conscience of Congress,’ Rep. Lewis was always on the front of the line in the fight for civil rights.
“Even before he joined Congress in 1987, Rep. Lewis never faltered in his quest for justice. From marching in Selma, Ala., as an original Freedom Rider alongside Dr. King in 1965 to organizing a sit-in for gun control regulations following the deadly Pulse shooting in 2016, Rep. Lewis showed us all what it means to be a person of integrity and strength.
“Every decision he made in Congress, he made with people at the center of his mind, not politics. Every step he took in life, he took in the same way – with great purpose and passion – no matter what might face him on the other side.
“That is why we are not simply moved to tears by Rep. Lewis’s death, but moved to action. We will fight for every American’s right to vote, for their right to come home at night after work in the same condition they left, and for their right to a life of dignity and liberty.
“May we uplift the values Rep. Lewis embodied every day, and may he rest as he lived – in power and in peace.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.