Marquette Moment
Aspin Center Honors
Congressman Lewis
Civil rights leader wins 2006 Democracy Award
A leader of the Civil Rights Movement, U.S. Rep. John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls the “beloved community” in America. The congressman from Georgia was honored with this year’s Les Aspin Democracy Award, presented at a ceremony on campus in September.
Accepting the award, Lewis expressed his hopes: “Maybe this great university and the Les Aspin Center will be able to teach us a new way of solving our problems, to encourage us to lay down the tools and instruments of war and violence, to find the way of peace, of love, as a better way. … I truly believe, as a member of Congress, as a citizen of our world, our strongest defense is the power of our ideals.”
The Aspin Democracy Award recognizes individuals who have made lifetime contributions to the promotion of democracy and its values.
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