WASHINGTON—One by one, members of the Congressional Black Caucus honored the legacy of the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis, July 14, reading the works of the civil rights icon and vowing to also get into “good trouble.”

“His words are more necessary today than ever and need to be repeated,” said Rep. Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat from Virginia, who led the hour-long salute on the House floor. “John Lewis understood just as Dr. (Martin Luther) King did he wasn’t going to reach the promised land of that more perfect union. But he fought for it.”

The caucus commemorated the 5^th anniversary of Lewis’ death. Lewis who was often called the “moral compass’’ of the House died July 17, 2020. The civil rights leader, a fellow caucus member, had lain in state at the U.S. Capitol and later in Georgia's capitol rotunda.

Lewis would say he was getting into ‘’good trouble’’ in his fight for civil rights. In addition to the Monday night salute, other groups plan to recognize Lewis’ work this week with social media posts and programs.

Organizers of nationwide protests against Trump administration policies have dubbed Thursday's demonstrations “Good Trouble Lives On.’’

With a poster behind them of a black and white photo of a young Lewis at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, caucus members read excerpts of his columns, speeches and memoir, “Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement."

They described Lewis as a mentor, a leader and a trailblazer. They said Lewis’ push to protect voting rights is as important as ever, pointing to efforts in some states to restrict access to the ballot box.

“For generations we have marched, fought and even died for the right to vote,’’ said Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Congressman Lewis certainly knew this.’’

Clarke said it’s a shame that in this climate of partisan politics there isn’t agreement that access to voting should be a right for everyone.  

“Congressman John Lewis devoted every day of his life to fight to make our country live us to its highest ideals…,’’ she said. “From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the halls of Congress the boy from Troy never stopped making good trouble.”

Members of the caucus, mostly Democrats, also took aim at Republicans arguing they have led attacks on voting rights, civil rights and diversity efforts – issues important to Lewis.

Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Democrat from Maryland, said Lewis serves as an inspiration “during this unprecedented and difficult times.”

“To heal the soul of America again we need to remain inspired by John Lewis and to get into good trouble again,’’ he said.

“Just imagine where we would be if John Lewis and those foot soldiers had given up on Bloody Sunday,’’ Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., said on the House floor, alluding to the March 1965 day when Lewis and others were attacked by police on Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge. “They had every reason to throw up their hands and surrender, but they didn’t.”

'We have been too quiet for too long'

In the years since his death, Lewis’ Democratic colleagues have continued to reintroduce a federal voting rights bill named in his honor.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would, among other things, restore a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that required states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval before making election changes.

It has repeatedly stalled in Congress. It has little chance of passing again in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Caucus members and other Democrats vow to continue to push for its passage.

“We must continue to honor his legacy with unshakeable determination to fight for what is right and what is just,’’ said Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat from Georgia.