House Dem: ‘We have let Ferguson drift away’

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) lamented during a discussion of the civil rights movement’s anniversary on Sunday that the nation has “let Ferguson drift away.”

Lewis said that while “things are much better” since the shooting of Jimmie Lee Jackson 50 years ago that led up to the iconic Selma march in which he participated, the U.S. is “not there yet.”

{mosads}”We still have problems,” Lewis said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“And we’ll make it. We will get there.”

Still, Lewis noted that the U.S. only operates in one “moment” and that that it will take more than a day, week, or a few months to “think about Ferguson.”

“We have to deal with it here and now.  If not, there will be other Fergusons,” Lewis said.

Eventually, Lewis added, the “day will come” where the country is able to foster a “colorblind society.”

“In some communities, police officers are standing in the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence,” Lewis said. “So, you bring community and law enforcement together, and not sweep the issues under the rug or in some dark corner.” 

Lewis praised comments made by F.B.I. Director James Comey, who admitted the “disconnect” between law enforcement and minority communities. 

Lewis said it took “raw courage” for the director to say that, and stress the need to address the tension surrounding Ferguson and similar incidents right away.