SPX 2013 SPECIAL GUEST PROFILE - CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
August 28, 2013… That’s exactly fifty years since what was, at the time, called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and what many people refer to today as simply THE March on Washington.
Whatever you choose to call it, The March was a seminal event of the 20th century - one of the largest and most significant political rallies in American history. And Congressman John Lewis was there.
LIFELONG ACTIVIST
John Lewis is a lifelong activist. He became heavily involved with the growing Civil Rights movement while a student in Nashville, where he staged sit-ins and other acts of civil disobedience.
Soon he was demonstrating against segregation by traveling cross-country as one of the Freedom Riders. At age twenty-three, he became Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee.
The same year, he helped plan the March on Washington, where he was a keynote speaker, alongside among others, Dr. Martin Luther King. Representative Lewis is, in fact, today the only surviving speaker from The March.
STILL FIERY, STILL FIGHTING
Congressman Lewis has “kept his eyes on the prize” ever since by constantly working for racial equality, voting rights, and social justice. In 2011 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to society.
You may have noted his still-fiery presence during this week's remembrances of The March.
John Lewis is walking, talking, living history and we are overwhelmingly honored to welcome him as a guest of SPX 2013.
MARCH, BOOK 1
Congressman Lewis will be joining us on Saturday, September 14th (only) to present his newly released New York Times Bestselling graphic novel, March, Book 1 illustrated by Nate Powell, co-authored by Andrew Aydin and available from Top Shelf Productions.
PANEL DISCUSSION
From 1PM to 2PM on Saturday, Congresman Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell will participate in a discussion led by journalist Alex Dueben. The group will discuss the process and goals of this singular comics project. Visit SPX 2013 Programming for full details.
SPX 2013 INFO
SPX, the Small Press Expo will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott on Saturday September 14th and Sunday the 15th. The venue is accessible via the Red Line Metro, White Flint station. Admission is $10.
Over 650 of the best and brightest creators in comics, including Congressman Lewis, will be exhibiting their works at SPX this year.
We hope very much you’ll join us.
