John Lewis speaks at Molloy College

On Monday, Oct. 5, Congressman John Lewis, a representative of Georgia and a civil rights leader, spoke to students at Molloy College.

Lewis came to the college and spoke to students at the Madison Theatre about his new book, “March,” a graphic novel recounting the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, led by Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his experiences during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

Lewis was also one of the original Freedom Riders, — a group of white and black people who rode buses together to shine a light on how southern states were not enforcing the ban on segregated interstate buses.

Lewis was famously friends with Martin Luther King, Jr., and spoke to the same crowd to which King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.

“We were honored to have Congressman John Lewis speak to our freshman class,” said Dr. Drew Bogner, Molloy’s president. “His description of the early days of the civil rights movement was both moving and inspirational, truly an unforgettable experience for everyone in the audience.”

The first two parts of “March” have been published, and they detail the story of the march from Selma to Montgomery to raise awareness and protest policies that kept black residents in the South from voting.