Commemorative stamp unveiled honoring Alabama native John Lewis

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John Lewis Mural
(Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

On Wednesday, June 21, House leaders and the head of the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a stamp honoring the late Rep. John Lewis. Keep reading for more information on Lewis, this honor and the impact he continues to make on our nation.

Freedom fighter John Lewis

The Pike County, Alabama native John Lewis was a leader of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and led nearly 600 protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama during a protest that became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Lewis was honored because of his bravery as a civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman. He is committed to serving underrepresented communities. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced at the unveiling ceremony that these stamps will be issued in July. A main post office facility in Atlanta, Georgia will also be named after Lewis around August. 

The official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp will take place on July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

The unveiling

Representative Terri Sewell honors Lewis’ stamp unveiling. (Terri Sewell / Twitter)

The stamp design features a 2013 photo of Lewis taken by Marco Grob for Time magazine.

According to an article from The Hill, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said commemorative stamps honor heroes and mark important moments throughout history and that Lewis is a worthy addition to the list of people who have been honored with them.

“By adding John Lewis to this collection, we are honoring an extraordinary contribution to the American story and inspiring future generations to follow his lead.” 

Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives

Be on the lookout for the John Lewis forever stamps available on July 21.

Callie Morrison
Callie Morrison
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