Local leaders, organizations mourn the death of US Rep. John Lewis

Mayor Bill Peduto:

Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald:

“I am saddened to learn of the death of a true national hero, Congressman John Lewis. As a Civil Rights icon, Congressman Lewis came to Pittsburgh a few years ago with Congressman Mike Doyle and inspired so many of us with his powerful speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church. His work for decades was an inspiration to us all and he will be sorely missed.”

Andrew McCutchen:

Pennsylvania NAACP President Kenneth Huston

“I think to myself, I have to do more. We in the civil rights movement have to do more. We have to reconcile our country in ways that we as a people come together and realize human rights is civil rights and civil rights is human rights.”

CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh Sabrina Saunders Mosby:

Sabrina Saunders Mosby said the loss of someone like Rep. John Lewis, who strove for a fair and diverse workforce, hits home.

“We are committed to this work, and his life and legacy certainly points to the work that has been done, and the path that has been laid. We’ve got a lot more work that we need to do moving forward, and we’re committed to that work and committed to supporting his legacy.”

Mosby said the Georgia congressman’s examples of nonviolent activism, despite being arrested 40 times and physically attacked and injured, made him a leading advocate for the rights of minorities. Lewis, Mosby said, showed us all how to send a message.

“What’s important is that we stay the course and that we communicate the message, which is that together we can make change in our region and our country. And that all of the challenges we face we can only improve upon and change too.”

While actions like the defacing of this Black Lives Matter symbol downtown are something that warrant anger, Mosby said the solution is never found through violence.

“We should be having conversations in our communities and in our neighborhoods, and not just at work but at the places and spaces we live as well. It’s going to take all of us to make change,” Mosby said.