Civil Rights icon visits Wilmington [video]

A civil rights icon makes his way to Wilmington to talk education and the current presidential campaign.

Fifty-one years after the right to vote made headlines in Selma, the Wilmington Urban League Young Professionals and Bank of America brought U.S. Representatives John Lewis of Georgia to the city to talk civil rights issues, including his historic role in the civil rights movement in America.

On Friday, in a town hall setting at the Double Tree Hotel in Wilmington, during one of the most talked about election seasons as candidates bid for the president’s seat, Congressman John Lewis, who made progress after marching for voting rights in Selma, Alabama said there’s still a distance to go.

“There are forces and we are seeing it in this campaign that want to take us back, they want to divide America. We want to bring people together,” Lewis said.

Congressman Lewis took people back in time during his struggle for voting rights. He also explained the power of the ballot box today.

“The vote is precious, it’s almost sacred. It’s the most powerful non-violet instrument or tool we have in a Democratic society and we must use it,” Lewis added.

U.S Representative John Carney and Senator Chris Coons also joined today’s discussion.

“I think we’ve got a fairly stark choice likely in front of us between candidates who are focused on division and candidates who are focused on bringing us together,” Coons said.