LOS ANGELES - Today would have been Representative John Lewis' 82nd birthday, and Los Angeles was able to celebrate with a special gift to the Los Angeles Central Library.
Congressmember John Lewis spent his life building justice and inspiring others. His inspiration now lives on in the Social Sciences and Philosophy department of the Central Library, thanks to a portrait of the civil rights icon donated by Netflix.
First appearing in the Netflix show Family Reunion, the portrait of John Lewis standing before Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. was painted by Jeff Clark of Netflix and donated to the City of Los Angeles following its TV appearance. With help from Council District 9 and Council District 10, as well as the Los Angeles Public Library and others, the location of the Central Library was chosen for the portrait, where it can be seen on Lower Level Three.
"It's special to know that a man who couldn't get a library card in Troy, Alabama, now has his picture in one of the most prestigious libraries in the nation," LA Civil Rights Executive Director Capri Maddox said. Maddox joined Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmembers Curren PRice and MAruqeece Harris Dawson, City Librarian John Szabo, Meg DeLoatch, Creator and Executive Producer of Family Reunion, and others to unveil the portrait.
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Thank you to LA This Week for covering this event. Learn more about visiting our Central Library at https://www.lapl.org/branches/central-library.