CNN "Newsroom" - Interview with Terri Sewell

Interview

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WHITFIELD: All right, Lauren Fox. Thanks so much. I want to bring in now, two colleagues of Congressman Lewis, fellow Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson, as well as Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama.

Good to see both of you on this very heavy day.

REP. TERRI SEWELL (D-AL): Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: So, Congresswoman, so let me hear from you first, if you don't mind. You know, about your thoughts and your memories of Congressman Lewis. I remember seeing you during the 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday with Congressman Lewis there. What are the thoughts that you want to have today for him?

SEWELL: You know, we lost a moral compass in losing john, I want to remember all of the wonderful opportunities I had to sit at his speed and to learn from John. John represents so much to my district, Alabama's seventh district that includes Birmingham and Selma, my hometown. He has such a special place. Selma holds a special place for him that we love John Lewis in my district.

He's Alabama native son, and we are just so blessed to call him one of our own. We want to make sure that we remember his life's work because it's still left undone. John had an indomitable spirit. It was infectious, his love of America, his love of people, and the fact that he stands as a living testament to the triumph of love over hate is something that's so important.

I hope that all of us will rededicate ourselves to his life's work and try to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That to me would be an honor and a tribute to a man and a life well lived.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And Congresswoman Sewell, I mean, how remarkable you would grow up in Selma, and be witness to? I mean, seeing Congressman Lewis who would make his pilgrimage to Selma, and then you would grow up to become a colleague, working alongside him as a member of Congress, you know, representing your district. I mean, that is heavy and that's big. So, you know, how were you able to, I guess, embrace that, you know, live up to that and work alongside him, somebody you admired for so long?

SEWELL: Yes, you know, Fredricka, you're trying to make me cry again.

WHITFIELD: I am not. I've had my tears too. I mean, I -- it's hard -- it's hard not to reflect on him. Everyone's had personal experiences, if you've been so lucky to have that and not tear up but, but go ahead. If you have to tear up, it's okay.

SEWELL: You know, as you said, I not only have the honor of representing Selma and to being Alabama's first black Congresswoman, but I grew up in Selma. I'm a daughter of Brown Chapel AME Church and having grown up and watch, so many foot soldiers come back like John Lewis time and time again to Brown Chapel to relive and reenact and remember and more importantly, be renewed and rededicate themselves to the fight for equality.

He was a giant among giants. We lost C.T. Vivian as well, yesterday and -- but you know, for me to be able to grow up in Selma, and to be able to then become the member of Congress and get to know John Lewis, I used to sing in the choir and pass out the brochures as an usher at Brown Chapel and then to -- then become a member of Congress.

You know, you're not often able to thank your living legend and I got a chance not only thank John time and time again, but to roll up my sleeves and hand and hopefully try to honor him and the legacy of those foot soldiers by trying to, you know, renew and restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I carry the seminal piece of legislation HR4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act. And we finally passed it in December. It sits languishing on the desk of Mitch McConnell. But you know what, this is a time for us to reflect on the life -- a life well led by John Lewis, and we need to be rededicate ourselves to the -- to the causes for which he fought. I think that as we think about this moment in American history, I hope that we are all full of the legacy that is John.

He embodied and walk the walk and talk the talk. I'm just honored and blessed to have an opportunity to not only stand on his shoulders, but also to be renewed by his strength each and every day to fight for those causes. That to me, is the best way that we can relive and extend his wonderful legacy.

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