Lewis was born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama
In February 1960, Lewis helped spark a successful sit-in movement at segregated lunch counters in Nashville on the heels of sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina.
In 1961, Lewis volunteered to become a member of the Freedom Riders. Lewis risked his life and was beaten several times by white mobs for his participation.
Lewis served as chairman of SNCC from 1963 to 1966
In 1965, Lewis and fellow activist Hosea Williams led "Bloody Sunday," one of the most dramatic nonviolent protests of the movement.
Lewis was elected to his first governmental office in 1981, serving as an Atlanta City Council member until 1986
Lewis co-authored Walking With The Wind: A Memoir of the Movement with Michael D'Orso
