*The Virginia high school named after Confederate war general Robert E. Lee will be renamed to honor the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis.
The Fairfax County’s school board voted Thursday to rename the school after the late congressman, who died Friday following a battle with cancer. He was 80.
The new name, John R. Lewis High School, goes into effect this school year, USA Today reports.
“The name Robert E. Lee is forever connected to the Confederacy, and Confederate values are ones that do not align with our community,” said Representative Tamara Derenak Kaufax, the board member who initially proposed a resolution earlier this year to remove Lee’s name from the school.
“I believe that John Lewis’ extraordinary life and advocacy for racial justice will serve as an inspiration to our students and community for generations to come.”
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55 years ago today, we were beaten, tear gassed, and trampled by horses. I thought I saw death. I thought I was going to die. I don’t know how I made it back, but I know we cannot rest. We cannot become weary. We must keep pushing and pulling and find a way to get in the way. pic.twitter.com/gg6n1CyJls
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2020
“Rep. Lewis was a champion of the Civil Rights movement, and our Board strongly believes this is an appropriate tribute to an individual who is a true American hero,” said Board chair Ricardy Anderson. “We will also honor his life’s work by continuing to promote equity, justice, tolerance and service in the work that we do.”
The funeral for the lawmaker, whose fight for racial justice began in Georgia in the 1960s, will be held Thursday at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Lewis’ body will also lie in state at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, according to published reports.
Here’s more via SF Gate:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday that the public will be allowed to pay their respects in Washington to the longtime Georgia congressman Monday night and all day Tuesday. Face masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced.
Due to coronavirus precautions, Lewis will lie in state for public viewing at the top of the east front steps of the Capitol rather than in the Rotunda, and the public will file past on the East Plaza. Face masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced.
Lewis’ family says members of the public need not travel to the state to pay their respects. Instead, they can do so virtually using the hashtags #BelovedCommunity or #HumanDignity.
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