Rep. John Lewis on the Death of Former U.S. Rep. Major Owens

“Major Owens was a wonderful man.  I actually felt it was an honor to have the chance to get to know him and call him a dear friend.  He was a graduate of Morehouse College and Atlanta University, where he studied library science.  He was one of the few librarians ever elected to Congress.

                “As a representative, he was a consistent and persistent champion for justice.  He fought for equal access for the underprivileged and underserved.  One of the highlights of his career was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act which opened up opportunities for the disabled and made it illegal to discriminate against them.   He also believed that every young American had the right to a quality education, and he fought to defend educational opportunity for the most vulnerable populations.  His district included many Caribbean families, especially Haitians, but he took a stand for immigrants from every continent who were seeking fairness and justice.

                “Major Owens was an honorable man who used his life and his talents to serve humanity.  My heart goes out to his wife and family.  I know he will be deeply missed.

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