The Atlanta Lawyer August/September 2015 | Page 15

50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

Court; Ann Lewis, general counsel of the Republican Party
of Georgia and partner at Strickland Brockington Lewis; and
Sam Olens, Attorney General for the state of Georgia.
The night was highlighted by the personal and heartfelt
conversation between Congressman John Lewis and Fred
Gray, who recounted stories from the Selma to Montgomery
march. Congressman Lewis credited lawyers for helping
him survive the violence and arrests he endured and noted
that “our country is a better country because of lawyers.”
Fred Gray was often the lawyer who assisted Lewis in his
legal battles, which included 40 arrests. On racism, Gray
declared that “if we solve the problem, it’s not going to be
an accident. We’re going to have to plan to do it.” He urged
a new generation of lawyers to focus on the civil rights
challenge.
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association

Atlanta Bar President Harold Franklin presented
Congressman Lewis with a resolution recognizing his life’s
work and contributions that precipitated the passage of
the Voting Rights Act. Franklin stated, “Though progress
has been made, there is much work to be done to advance
the non-partisan fundamental principles of our democracy
of promoting justice, ensuring the integrity of the elec