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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 31 december 2019

Congressman John Lewis says

cancer is his latest battle

By BILL CORMIER none before: advanced Lewis also said he was
Associated Press pancreatic cancer. "clear-eyed about the
ATLANTA (AP) — As a civil The veteran Democrat prognosis" even as doctors
rights activist at 25, John congressman from Geor- have told him that recent
Lewis was beaten so badly gia has fought many strug- medical advances have
his skull was fractured and gles in his lifetime. made this type of cancer
the TV images from an Ala- Yet, he said, "I have never treatable in many cases.
bama bridge in the 1960s faced a fight quite like the He added that "treatment
In this Nov. 18, 2016, file photo, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., forced a nation's awaken- one I have now," announc- options are no longer as
poses for a photograph under a quote of his that is displayed in ing to racial discrimination. ing Sunday in Washington debilitating as they once
the Civil Rights Room in the Nashville Public Library in Nashville, As a congressman today at that the cancer was de- were."
Tenn. 79, Lewis is facing a foe like tected earlier this month The American Cancer Soci-
Associated Press and confirmed in a diag- ety estimates 3% of patients
nosis. with stage 4 pancreatic
Lewis has had many bat- cancer are alive five years
tles, and this he views as after being diagnosed.
one more dawning. He was Sometimes called the "con-
arrested at least 40 times in science of the Congress,"
the civil rights era, several Lewis led hundreds of pro-
more times as a congress- testers in the 1965 Bloody
man since being elected in Sunday march across the
1986 and only recently he Edmund Pettus Bridge in
has been rallying to help Selma, Alabama.
reunite immigrant families He was at the head of
separated by the Trump the march when he was
administration. knocked to the ground
The youngest and last survi- and beaten by police.
vor of the Big Six civil rights The nationally televised im-
activists, a group once led ages forced the country's
by the Rev. Martin Luther attention on the racial in-
King Jr., Lewis made clear equalities being fought by
that he has no plans to step King and so many others.
aside from power while he Lewis turned to politics in
undergoes treatment. 1981, when he was elected
He said being elected to to the Atlanta City Council.
Congress "has been the In 2011 he received the
honor of a lifetime" and Presidential Medal of Free-
that he will continue work- dom from President Barack
ing for his constituents from Obama, who had marched
Capitol Hill. with Lewis hand in hand in
"I have been in some kind Selma on the 50th anniver-
of fight — for freedom, sary of the Bloody Sunday
equality, basic human attack.
rights — for nearly my entire House Speaker Nancy Pe-
life," he said. losi was among those who
Added Lewis: "I have a sent her best wishes to Lew-
fighting chance." is after the announcement
He declined to say where of his illness.
he would receive cancer "We are all praying for you
treatment or what that following this diagnosis.
would entail. But he said he John, know that genera-
may not always be around tions of Americans have
the halls of Congress in the you in their thoughts &
coming weeks. prayers as you face this
"I may miss a few votes fight." She said in a state-
during this period, but with ment.
God's grace I will be back "We are all praying that you
on the front lines soon," he are comfortable. We know
said in asking for prayers. that you will be well."q