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Fans at Comic Com often dress up as their favorite superhero. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia decided to cosplay as a real-life hero: himself, marching at Selma fifty years ago.
Lewis, who represents Georgia's 5th District, is considered one of the Big Six leaders during the Civil Rights Movement, and was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from 1963 to 1966. On March 7, 1965, Lewis suffered a skull fracture after being beaten by Alabama State Troopers when he led 600 marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. He still has scars on his head today.
Lewis has chronicled his experience in the Civil Rights Movement in a graphic novel trilogy titled March. Book Two was released in January of this year, and the Congressman was at San Diego Comic Con on Saturday morning to discuss the graphic novel at a panel with his March co-author and artist. Lewis came dressed as himself marching at Selma fifty years ago, wearing a similar trench coach and backpack as he did that day. After discussing details of Book Three (slated for 2016) and fielding questions, ABC 10 said he led a march through the convention before ending with a book signing.
My first event today is an amazing one: true American hero, civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/VG3asSUsoh
— Jeff Lasky (@10NewsLasky) July 11, 2015
Congressman John Lewis.
— Top Shelf Productions (@topshelfcomix) July 11, 2015
At Comic-Con.
In costume.
(Recreating his trench coat and backpack from Selma 50 years ago) pic.twitter.com/T4EHdbKZhs
And then there was the time I marched through #SDCC with @repjohnlewis pic.twitter.com/vRrXkCs8Uw
— Mike Bocchini (@Bocchs) July 11, 2015
Congressman Lewis will be signing MARCH again shortly at the @IDWPublishing #SDCC booth 2743! pic.twitter.com/rNpYMyOUdD
— Top Shelf Productions (@topshelfcomix) July 11, 2015
The March with Congressman Lewis through #SDCC was amazing! I interviewed him during the walk- video coming soon! pic.twitter.com/vgps4v5KKc
— Jeff Lasky (@10NewsLasky) July 11, 2015