Rep. John Lewis to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol next week

The late Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader and Democrat who represented Georgia's 5th Congressional District for more than two decades, will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol next week.

Lewis, 80, died last Friday after battling cancer. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced on Thursday evening that an invitation-only ceremony will be held on Monday afternoon while Lewis lies in state at the Capitol Rotunda. Later in the day and on Tuesday, Lewis will lie in state outdoors, where the public will be able to pay their respects, with social distancing and mask measures in place.

Lewis' family has asked people who want to honor him but do not live in the Washington, D.C., area to stay home, and use the hashtags #BelovedCommunity or #HumanDignity to leave a virtual tribute, USA Today reports.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up