John Lewis Discussed Voting Rights Act in 2018 Selma Interview

Civil rights leader and former congressman John Lewis said to CNN journalist Dana Bash in 2018 ^[1] regarding the Voting Rights Act.

The interview highlights the enduring struggle for ballot access in the U.S. and the historical weight of the locations where these battles were fought. By returning to the site of systemic conflict, the conversation connects the legislative achievements of the past with the ongoing challenges of voter protection.

The discussion took place on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama ^[2]. This location served as the backdrop for the interview to mark the anniversary of the historic 1965 ^[2] march for voting rights. The march remains one of the most pivotal moments in the American civil rights movement, leading to the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Lewis and Bash used the setting to reflect on the significance of the act and the bravery of those who marched across the bridge. The 1965 ^[2] events in Selma were designed to draw national attention to the disenfranchisement of Black voters in the South, a struggle that Lewis participated in personally as a young leader.

During the 2018 ^[1] conversation, the focus remained on the necessity of protecting the right to vote. The dialogue emphasized that the work started decades ago is not yet complete, as legal and political hurdles continue to affect voter participation across the country.

The interview serves as a record of Lewis's perspective on the intersection of protest and policy. By revisiting the bridge, the segment underscores the physical and symbolic journey from the streets of Selma to the halls of Congress.