The sports world is paying tribute to civil rights era hero and longtime Georgia Democrat Rep. John Lewis, who died at age 80 on Friday. Lewis announced in December that he was fighting Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
"Last night, our city and country lost one of its heroes and most important civil rights icons who was highly regarded for his nearly six decades of social activism and getting into 'good trouble,'" a statement from the NBA's Atlanta Hawks read, referring to Lewis' frequent insistence that people had a moral obligation to confront injustice.
The team added that Lewis' "legacy will forever be remember throughout the city's peaceful protests to fight racial inequality in the 1960s, and our nation will be forever indebted to him for his lifelong dedication to public service."
Here is a selection of other tributes from athletes and teams from around the sports world:
Basketball
Rest. In. Paradise John Lewis. #CivilRightsICON✊🏾 THANK YOU!! 🙏🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 18, 2020
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) July 18, 2020
Thank you for keeping the dream alive all these years and paving the way for us #RIPJohnLewis 🙏🏾🕊🖤 pic.twitter.com/81lq8dDwMn
— Chris Paul (@CP3) July 18, 2020
R.I.P The Civil Rights Icon
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) July 18, 2020
Rep. John Lewis. 💔
Your legacy will live on forever. 🙏
The world is better because of you ♥️ pic.twitter.com/GkRpKpkYmD
Tonight we lost a force in the movement who’s voice served as a guide for so many us. Rest in Power John Lewis ✊🏾 #GoodTrouble pic.twitter.com/Re14tvxM3A
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) July 18, 2020
RIP Rep. Lewis. Thank you 🙏 You made our city and country better for everyone. https://t.co/S7LwPzqRBf
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) July 18, 2020
“When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something.”
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 18, 2020
Rest In Peace, John Lewis. Thank you for showing us what #GoodTrouble looks like. pic.twitter.com/heZpEeLOUn
Football
An example of true leadership. Rest In Peace to an American hero. https://t.co/Rxbvd8DJFX
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) July 18, 2020
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) July 18, 2020
Thank you for fighting to create a better America for me and my family. I wish I had the chance to get to know you and learn from you! #RIPJohnLewis https://t.co/WUJp1guPnA
— Calais Campbell (@CalaisCampbell) July 18, 2020
“..when parents teach their children what is meant by courage, the story of John Lewis will come to mind — an American who knew that change could not wait for some other person or some other time; whose life is a lesson in the fierce urgency of now." - B. Obama
— Douglas Baldwin Jr 🧢 (@DougBaldwinJr) July 18, 2020
RIP LEGEND
A True Legend with a Legacy that won’t be forgotten! Thank you @repjohnlewis Rest In Heaven, King! 🙏🏾 https://t.co/GPW2EHGZSo
— Tre Boston (@TreBos10) July 18, 2020
Rest in Heaven, sir! Thank you for all that you stood for, the waves you made and the progress that you worked so tirelessly for. We will continue to push forward #goodtrouble https://t.co/fqN9UULB7m
— Lance Moore (@LanceMoore16) July 18, 2020
Baseball
Equality. Justice. Hope. pic.twitter.com/vCKSZaC2JF
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 18, 2020
Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice and your leadership. Rest In Paradise #JohnLewis May we continue to honor your legacy and be a voice for the voiceless. pic.twitter.com/cpXHbaVssH
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) July 18, 2020
One of the highlights of my career. Thank you for showing the world how to raise “good trouble” and fight for civil rights. Rest in power John Lewis. pic.twitter.com/cjZ5QRBgpS
— Obi-Sean Kenobi Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) July 18, 2020
Hockey
The Capitals mourn the passing of civil rights icon and American hero, Congressman John Lewis.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 18, 2020
His life’s work leaves a legacy for us all to follow.
Thank you for showing us what #GoodTrouble looks like. pic.twitter.com/WFi5Yb1imf
RIP John Robert Lewis – a civil rights leader whose ongoing activism to eradicate racism will be greatly missed in the United States and around the world. #GoodTrouble pic.twitter.com/m3Mcas2c1D
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 18, 2020
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