Rep. John Lewis Participates In Bloody Sunday March

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta congressman and civil rights activist Rep. John Lewis joined others Sunday in Selma, Alabama, at a memorial voting rights march. They commemorated the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, reports WSB.

Lewis greeted marchers, including former Georgia candidate for Gov. Stacey Abrams and the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

On March 7, 1965, Lewis and other voting rights activists were beaten by law enforcement when crossing the Edmond Pettus Bridge into Selma. Lewis was part of a voting rights march to Montgomery, Alabama.

The march has been re-enacted by Lewis, other civil rights leaders and more, for years.

“We were beaten, we were tear-gassed,” Lewis tweeted. “I thought I was going to die on this bridge. But somehow and some way, God almighty helped me here. We cannot give up now. We cannot give in. We must keep the faith, keep our eyes on the prize.”

This year Lewis rode in a car to cross the bridge, then got out to give his speech, reports WSB. He’s been undergoing chemo treatment since announcing his stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December.

He turned 80 years old last month. Former President Barack Obama wished Lewis a happy birthday, calling him a "hero."