CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript Interview with Hank Johnson

Interview

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WHITFIELD: Yes, I can hear you are so proud of him, but I assure you I'm sure that the feeling is mutual. He's very -- he's been very proud of you, too. So congressman Johnson, you know, as a fellow member of the Georgia delegation, you know, your thoughts on both Congressman Lewis and C.T. Vivian, who is a resident here of Atlanta, and I know you got a chance to interact with him quite a bit as well. I mean, this is -- this is a double whammy, you know, for so many of us.

REP. HANK JOHNSON (D-GA): Yes, it really is. And then when you consider that Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery died just a few months ago, March 27th, I believe, we've lost three civil rights icons during this COVID epidemic. And it's been really sad the last 24 hours to think that John Lewis will not be among us when we come back to reconvene under normal circumstances in Congress. He's just been such a powerful voice for what is right, what is just -- what is truth.

He stood, he stood on high moral ground, and he lifted everyone else who was around him up to where he was not in arrogant and high-handed way, but just in being a humble servant of the people. And he never lost track of why he was on this earth. He was put on this earth for a reason. And his reason for being here was to fight for human rights. Not only civil rights for black folks, but human rights for everyone.

He had so much love in his heart. I mean, into -- to be with him just walking through an airport. And I don't care where that airport might be. But you walk through an airport with John Lewis or to any other public location, and to see him interact with the hordes of people who would come up. People wanting autographs, people wanting pictures, people just wanting to have a few words wanting to take some time to talk to John Lewis.

And he would always give everybody, every inch of time that they demanded of him. It was kind of excruciating to watch him and I know that sometimes he was tired and didn't really, you know, want to do it, but he would always smile and engage people. The people actually lifted him up and he never forgot where he came from. But he never did consider himself to be high and mighty. I mean, that was -- if you went someplace with him, he didn't expect for you to treat him differently, or as if he were a high public official, something like that.

He just wanted to be treated just like a regular individual human being. That's what he -- that's what he was. That's what he exemplified. That's the example that he said. And it's one that I will always have front and center in my mind as I move forward. And in fact, I would -- I have often said that I would not even be a congressman had it not been for John Lewis, and just a couple of days before the 2016 election, which was my first election.

John Lewis was quoted as saying that I think Hank Johnson will make a excellent representative and he did not endorse me in that race. It was against a sitting incumbent. But just those words at that particular time, I think were enough to propel me across the finish line. And I've been honored to serve with him for the last 14 years and get to know him. And to get to serve him, I've tried to serve him to help him carry out his legacy.

And so I'm proud of the time that we spent together and I'll always hold it dear to my heart.

WHITFIELD: Beautiful memories. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your hearts with all of us. Congressman Hank Johnson, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, really appreciate you both. Thank you.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

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