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School Board in VA Votes to Rename Robert E. Lee High School after Late U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis

School Board in VA Votes to Rename Robert E. Lee High School after Late U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis

By goodblacknews on July 23, 2020

A county school board in Virginia voted Thursday to rename Springfield, VA’s Robert E. Lee High School after recently deceased Civil Rights activist and U.S. Congress Member John R. Lewis. The new name will be effective for the 2020-21 school year.

According to the Fairfax County Public Schools press release, the Fairfax County School Board voted to change the name of the school and then held a one-month period of public comment on possible new names. A virtual town hall meeting was held on July 15 and a public hearing was held on July 22.

Today’s vote happened during a virtual business meeting, which was broadcast on Zoom.

“The Board heard from students, teachers and staff members, families, and the community about the old name,” said School Board Chair Ricardy Anderson. “It was important for us to be mindful of these comments and to select a name that reflected the diversity and multiculturalism that currently exists at the school and in our community.

Rep. Lewis was a champion of the Civil Rights movement, and our Board strongly believes this is an appropriate tribute to an individual who is a true American hero. We will also honor his life’s work by continuing to promote equity, justice, tolerance and service in the work that we do.”

RELATED: Unedited “Eyes on the Prize” Interviews with John Lewis and C.T. Vivian Available to Stream at American Archive of Public Broadcasting (WATCH)

Lewis, a leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement and the Freedom Rides, represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives for 33 years. He was one of the original organizers of the 1963 March on Washington to draw attention to inequalities faced by African Americans.

He also led the Selma to Montgomery march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. Known as “Bloody Sunday,” the demonstrators were marching to the state capital to demand voting rights for African Americans when they were met by armed police who attacked them.

RELATED: “Amazing Grace”: Playlist in Honor of Civil Rights Heroes John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian (LISTEN)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law later that year and is considered one of the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history. Congressman Lewis was the recipient of many awards throughout his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. He passed away on July 17, 2020, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

[Photo via Fairfax County Public Schools leehs.fcps.edu]