Organizers for the John Lewis events today have announced that the public viewing hours for the congressman has been extended. The public will now be able to view Lewis’ casket at the Georgia State Capitol Rotunda from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Lewis is only the third Black person to lie in state at the capitol, following Coretta Scott King, Sen. Leroy Johnson and C.T. Vivian.
Auburn Avenue will be closed to traffic between Boulevard and Jackson Street from 5 p.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Thursday. And Jackson Street will be shut down between Auburn Avenue and Irwin Street from 11 p.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Thursday, police said.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ body will arrive today in Atlanta, his adopted home and final resting place.
The civil rights giant, who died July 17 at age 80, spent his adult years here and started his political career on the Atlanta City Council. In Congress, he represented the 5th District, which covers Atlanta and many adjoining cities and communities.
His funeral will be Thursday, and he’ll be buried next to his wife, Lillian, who died in 2012.
But there are more “celebration of life” events to be held before his internment.
Cox Media Group
