IN MEMORIAM
The Lessons Muslim Americans Should Take from Rep. John Lewis BY EDWARD AHMED MITCHELL
President Barack Obama, Rep. John Lewis (center), First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia flank grandmother Marian Robinson. They are waiting, along with former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 2015. Former foot soldier Amelia Boynton Robinson, 103 years old (second from left). (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
I
n the twenty-four hours after President Trump announced his first Muslim Ban on Jan. 27, 2017, thousands of protesters descended upon airports across the country. At that time, I was a civil rights attorney serving as executive director of CAIR’s Georgia chapter. When I arrived at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I expected to find a small crowd of Muslim demonstrators cordoned off by Atlanta police officers. I was in for a surprise. Despite being one of the world’s largest and busiest airports, I had never seen a crowd like this. A sea of people — thousands of them — had forcibly taken over the airport’s outdoor arrivals area. Even more surprising — people who came to show solidarity with us vastly outnumbered the Muslims in the crowd. The rainbow crowd of Georgians carried all manner of signs produced in short order: “Muslim & Proud,” “Let Them In” and “No Ban, No Wall.” After navigating my way to an elevated spot with other speakers, I noticed a ripple
President Obama hugs Rep. John Lewis after his introduction. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
run through the crowd. A group of protesters suddenly parted in a straight line, creating a narrow pathway. That’s when I noticed the man working his way through the crowd. Although I could only see his broad shoulders and the top of his head, I knew I was looking at Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga). Rep. Lewis, then about 77 years old, had shown up to demand answers from
18 ISLAMIC HORIZONS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
immigration officials about missing and detained travelers. After hours spent inside dealing with tight-lipped immigration officers, he made his way into the thick of the crowd outside. As protesters nearby recognized the legend in their midst, they stepped back, parting like the Red Sea, and began applauding. As I look back on that day, a thought occurs to me: John Lewis didn’t have to be there. He could have stayed home, directed his staff to issue a statement condemning the Muslim Ban and then watched the protests unfold on CNN. No one would have noticed or faulted him. Between risking his life at segregated lunch counters, aboard freedom rides and on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, John Lewis had done enough protesting to last a lifetime. His work had already paved the way for generations, including new Muslim immigrants and the descendants of indigenous African-American Muslims, to live more freely. He didn’t owe Muslim Americans or anyone else in our country more of his time. But there the congressman was at Hartsfield-Jackson airport, big as life. That wasn’t the last time we saw him on the frontline late in his life. From issues of gun violence to immigration, he showed up again and again to share words of wisdom and encourage protesters to get into “good trouble.” He made his last public appearance just weeks before his death at the Black Lives Matter mural painted on the street leading to the White House. As Muslim Americans and other communities carry on their respective fights to protect their rights in the face of resurgent bigotry, we should take at least two lessons from John Lewis’ life. First, our entire community — not just activists — must recognize that fighting injustice does not begin and end with Islamophobia or other matters that uniquely impact Muslims. After the Civil Rights movement achieved its major goals, John Lewis didn’t pat himself on the back, retire and forget about everyone else. Instead, he continued to advocate for the Black and other communities impacted by racial discrimination, economic inequality, American military adventures overseas and other issues. Many Muslim activist organizations have already taken this lesson to heart by playing a major role in the fight against racist
