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Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) was a prominent leader in the civil rights movement during the 1960s. He will deliver the keynote address at Portland State's commencement ceremony June 12. [Click to enlarge]

Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, who stands as one of the surviving icons of the Martin Luther King Jr. civil rights era, will deliver the keynote address at the Portland State commencement ceremony June 12.

A youthful Lewis stood and delivered an inspirational speech on civil rights to the March on Washington crowd at the Lincoln Memorial August 28, 1963. Shortly thereafter, King made his celebrated "I Have a Dream" oration. An aide to Lewis said the congressman is the only person still alive who made a speech that day.

Although Lewis will bring a prepared address with him, he expects to extrapolate on it in his inspirational style. The congressman will deliver a speech that springs from his experiences in the civil rights movement, to encourage students to use their talents and abilities to "win a victory for humanity."

Lewis is known as a man who likes to talk to young people. He is expected to tell his audience he believes very deeply in the power of young people to change the world. He will be encouraging his listeners to get involved, "get in the way" and make a difference for humanity.

He is expected to tell the graduates to enjoy this commencement day, and "tomorrow roll up your sleeves, because the world is waiting for talented men and women to lead it to a better place."

He will call for an "all-inclusive world community based on simple justice, an all-encompassing community that values the dignity of every individual." It is a concept he calls "the Beloved Community."

The congressman plans to review highlights of his experiences in the civil rights movement of the '60s and beyond and relate their lessons to the stresses of society today.

This will not be the congressman's first visit to Portland State. He came here as a participant in Bobby Kennedy's 1969 bid for the U.S. presidency and he came again last summer to discuss the civil rights movement with PSU President Daniel Bernstine and members of the campus community.

Lewis is the author of the widely-quoted book "Walking with the Wind." He was recently featured in Washingtonian magazine after Senator John McCain of Arizona listed Lewis in a book as one of the most courageous individuals he had ever met. Lewis also will be featured in an upcoming issue of American Profile magazine.

The congressman's history on behalf of the civil rights movement dates back to a very young age. He was born the son of sharecroppers in 1940 near Troy, Ala. As a student, he organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tenn. In 1961 he participated in the Freedom Rides to challenge segregation at bus terminals. He was arrested more than 40 times and was beaten severely by mobs.

He helped to form, and became chairman of, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), known for its activism on behalf of civil rights. By 1963 he was recognized as one of the "Big Six" civil rights leaders, along with Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins.

In 1977, Lewis was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to direct more than 250,000 volunteers of ACTION, the federal volunteer agency. His first electoral office came in 1981 when he was voted to the city council of Atlanta, Ga. He was elected to the Congress in November, 1986, to represent Georgia's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Atlanta. He is currently serving his ninth term in office and serves as senior chief deputy Democratic Party whip in the House.

Commencement will take place Saturday, June 12, at 3 p.m. in the Rose Garden Arena. Additional information may be found at www.pdx.edu/commencement.

The commencement ceremony June 12 is a formal ceremony. All participating students are required to wear the appropriate academic regalia. Those taking part will have earned degrees or certificates in fall 2003, winter 2004 or spring 2004.

Students participating will assemble at 1:45 p.m. in the Memorial Coliseum exhibit hall. There, students fill out "reader cards." The lines will begin to move from the exhibit hall to the Rose Garden arena shortly before 2:30 p.m. University guidelines ask that the use of cell phones and chewing gum be discouraged.

No alcohol is permitted in the exhibit hall or the arena. Helium balloons are to be left outside. A professional photographer will take cap and gown portrait photos in the exhibit hall beginning at 1:45 p.m. There also will be photos taken of all students as they shake hands with the president or the appropriate dean.

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