Obama Says John Lewis Inspired Him, Tributes Pour in for Civil Rights Hero

Former U.S. president Barack Obama has said that he owed his position to the path forged by John Lewis, the Georgia lawmaker and civil rights leader whose death aged 80 has sparked a flood of tributes.

Obama awarded Lewis the President Medal of Freedom, in 2011 and viewed the Democratic Congressman, who once marched with Martin Luther King, as his hero.

When the future president was elected a U.S. Senator, Obama said that he "stood on his shoulders."

"He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise," Obama said in a statement. "And through the decades, he not only gave all of himself to the cause of freedom and justice, but inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example."

Obama last shared a public forum with Lewis during a virtual town hall of activists discussing what to do following the death of George Floyd, an incident which has reignited the debate about American race relations and sparked demonstrations across the U.S. led by the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Not many of us get to live to see our own legacy play out in such a meaningful, remarkable way. John Lewis did," Obama said.

Other prominent figures and groups took to Twitter to pay tribute to Lewis who was elected to the House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th District in 1985.

The son of the civil rights icon with whom he marched, described him as an "American treasure".

"He gave a voice to the voiceless, and he reminded each of us that the most powerful nonviolent tool is the vote," Martin Luther King III tweeted.

"Our hearts feel empty without our friend, but we find comfort knowing that he is free at last," he added.

Fellow civil rights activist, Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted that "he changed the world without hate, rancor or arrogance."

The NAACP said: "His life-long mission for justice, equality and freedom left a permanent impression on our nation and world," while mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, said: "You will be remembered beyond all of the tomorrows."

The Black Caucus tweeted: "Congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting racism and injustice wherever he confronted it, from boycotts, sit-ins, and other protests in the streets, to championing bold, progressive policies in Congress."

"Thank you for your blood, sweat and tears. The fight continues!" wrote U.S. House candidate, Angela Stanton King, before adding "Rest in Power" a phrase that was trending on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi described Lewis as "a titan of the civil rights movement whose goodness, faith and bravery transformed our nation."