Book excerpt: The story of civil rights activist John Lewis, inspired to action by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders who believed in fighting segregation peacefully. From Tennessee to Alabama, Lewis was in the forefront of the major civil rights protests of the 1960s. In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and devotion to nonviolence, helping black people in the south gain the right to vote. In 1986 Lewis was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Congress, where he continues to serve today.