Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change

by John Lewis

Even in violence, the unity of humanity cannot be broken, and that is why it is more productive to acknowledge the bond from the beginning and move from there. The struggle is simply an elongated path to the abiding conclusion: We are all one people, one family. Wilson has said publicly that he is glad to be able to count me as a friend today, and he has expressly mentioned his gratitude that we did not press charges that day. His life and the life of his family could have been changed forever if South Carolina had actually tried and convicted him. But beyond that, had he been tried, it would have added a layer of justification to the rationalization that always accompanies guilt. If he had been publicly vindicated, which would have been the likely outcome, it would have been more difficult for him to come to the point where he eventually believed an apology was in order, and more difficult for him to feel love.