This is the Tom Hartman Program.

Well, happy end of July, and today is the day that the nation lays to rest John Lewis, a congressman, civil rights icon, a man who was brave enough. And I think it's so important that we really understand this, brave enough that he looked

for opportunities to confront hatred and racism in a way that he knew

would cause not only physical pain but could end his life.

And he always did it with nonviolence.

There is such a lesson there, but I wanted to read to you what John Lewis wrote and asked

the New York Times to publish on the day of his funeral. It's very short, it's maybe eight or nine paragraphs,

and it's basically his letter to you and me and America. But I think particularly to you and me, particularly to those of us who

care about the fate and future of this country, particularly to those to those of us who love the idea, are in love with the idea

of a truly pluralistic country, of a country where everyone is judged by the content of their character to paraphrase Martin Luther King,

not the color of their skin.

And so these are John Lewis's words.

He said, well, my time here has now come to an end. These are John Lewis's words.

He said, while my time here has now come to an end,

I want you to know that in the last days and hours of my life,

you inspired me.

You filled me with hope about the next chapter

of the Great American Story when you used your power to make a difference in our society.

Millions of people, motivated simply by human compassion, laid down the burdens of division.

Around the country and the world you set aside race, class, age, language,

and nationality to demand respect for human dignity.

That is why I had to visit Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, though I was admitted

...