Presidential Proclamation on the Death of John Lewis NC Governor on Lowering Of US and NC Flags To Half-Staff In Honor of U.S. Representative John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian

Photo taken on Saturday, July 18, 2020 t 3:20pm.


Presidential Proclaimation

As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding public service of Representative John Lewis, of Georgia, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions through July 18, 2020. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half‑staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

NC Governor

Governor Roy Cooper today ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff beginning immediately, Saturday, July 18, 2020 through sunset on Sunday, July 19, 2020 to honor the lives of U.S. Representaive John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian, two great leaders who dedicated their lives to justice and peace. These two friends both resided in Atlanta and died on the same day, July 17.

An Alabama native, Rep. Lewis, age 80, was a life-long civil rights organizer, author and public servant. Rep. Lewis was the youngest person to address the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He was a central organizer of the 1965 Selma, Alabama voting rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge; a bold, courageous demonstration that was ultimately met with violence and brutality. The nationally televised altercation, now known as ‘Bloody Sunday’, became the catalyst for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Rep. Lewis served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 until his death.



A Missouri native, Rev. Vivian, age 95, was a life-long civil rights leader, minister, teacher and author. Rev. Vivian was a Freedom Rider who served as the first National Affiliates Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. A co-organizer of the Nashville Student Movement and the Selma Voting Rights Movement, he was a preacher, political strategist, and a champion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Rev. Vivian was a prominent advisor to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the early American Civil Rights Movement and was named Dean of Shaw Divinity School in 1972.



As a show of respect, individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the duration of time indicated.



Please note, all U.S. and North Carolina flag announcements are issued in accordance to regulations outlined in the US Flag Code.

Published at 3:25pm on Saturday, July 18, 2020