Former President Barack Obama was among a number of speakers at the Atlanta funeral of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis and though there were early questions about how the former commander-in-chief may address the presidential election less than 100 days away, Obama delivered his speech with a call to action.
The 44th president told the crowd, âBull Connor may be gone, but today we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of Black Americans. George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators.â
After applause from the congregation, Obama continued, âWe may no longer have to guess the number jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot, but even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restricted ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision.â
Moments later, Obama added, âI know this is a celebration of Johnâs life. There are some who might say we shouldnât dwell on such things. But thatâs why Iâm talking about it. John Lewis devoted his time on this earth fighting the very attacks on democracy and whatâs best in America that weâre seeing circulate right now.â
Obama had been staying out of the political arena for the past few years as Donald Trump led the country but heâs recently come back into the spotlight.
Last week, Obama and Democratic nominee Joe Biden appeared together in a video for the Biden campaign. In that clip, Obama said of Trump, âCan you imagine standing up when you were president and saying âitâs not my responsibility. I take no responsibility.â Literally. Literally.â
