Man Asks Entire Town for Forgiveness for Racism

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6813984&page=1

48 Years Ago, He Attacked Future Rep. John Lewis; Now the Two Hug

By CLAIRE SHIPMAN, CINDY SMITH and LEE FERRAN
Feb. 6, 2009

Nearly half a century ago, in a very different America, Elwin Wilson and John Lewis met under a veil of violence and race-inspired hate.

Wilson, a young, white, Southern man, attacked Lewis, a freedom rider for Martin Luther King, in the "white" waiting room of a South Carolina bus station.

The men had not seen each other again until Tuesday when, with "Good Morning America's" help, Wilson approached Lewis again -- this time offering an apology and a chance to relieve a burden he'd carried for more than four decades.

"I'm so sorry about what happened back then," Wilson said breathlessly.

"It's OK. I forgive you," Lewis responded before a long-awaited hug.

For Lewis, who in the intervening years became a U.S. representative from Georgia, the apology was an unexpected symbol of the change in time and hearts.

MORE:

http://www.palmettoscoop.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• john
• lewis
• elwin
• wilson
• kkk
• klan
• racism

[pedi007]

@2323bw go forgot Judas, I think he can forget this man too. There is always time to change...

[MProctorify]

This truly made me cry in hope. The world may be bad, but we are changing and can still change for the better. This is beautiful no matter what his reasons. MLK would be happy.

[2323bw]

GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN. JUDGMENT DAY IS HERE!

[barker00429]

It takes a strong person to ask for forgiveness, no matter how or by what means he/she choose to do this if it because they found God that is a good thing if they just see their ways and decides to change that it a good thing. Those where different times in each of our lives in which our parent taught us one could say that he was taught to hate, therefore not knowing the difference he acted out on what he knew.

[Cionaodh57]

@EmeraldIsleStar You are a moron! This man's faith led him to reconciliation and yet you disparage him for having faith. Because this man embraced the central tenets of his faith he was able to reach across that chasm in his soul and mind and embrace someone whom he was taught to hate and overcome that, and that's not good enough for you! The opiate you're imbibing is far more detrimental than the Christian religion you despise.

[AFCADaan9]

You know the kkk members should follow him he changed

[dulsen2011]

Ooh what a good man.. He changed... God bless him...

[josephortizgarcia]

Maybe...

[vidz022]

We send ourselves to school to learn the beauty of the world, to become educated, so we can discover the essence of it. And we start it by learning shapes, and colors. Colors represent so many things and some would use this to brand us. You are lucky enough to see the color of the world because some were born literally blind that wishes to see what the world looks like. Imagine that. Colors are taken for granted simply because we were not born blind. So lets use the color to love and appreciate.

[140662amarildo]

Not good to see you at the end, you beat the shitt out of my black ass fifty years ago. Fuck you! LMAO!