Civil rights icon: ‘Massive protests’ if Ferguson officer not indicted

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) predicts that a “miscarriage of Justice in Ferguson” could result in “massive, nonviolent protests all over America.”

Lewis appeared on Roland Martin’s radio show Tuesday to discuss potential repercussions if a grand jury does not indict the police officer who killed black teenager Michael Brown, Jr.

“I think what is happening is moving to that point, where there would be the same feeling and climate and environment that we had in Selma,” Lewis said, recalling his involvement in the 1965 march for voting rights that led to a bloody confrontation with state troopers.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) declared a state of emergency Monday, activating the national guard ahead of an expected grand jury decision.

The FBI has warned the decision “will likely” lead to some violent threats and potentially to attacks.

“Selma was the turning point. And I think what happened in Ferguson will be the turning point. I think people are waiting, they’re watching and we’re gonna see, I think, within the next few days what [happens] and that could be massive, nonviolent protests all over America,” Lewis explained, touting new film “Selma” produced by Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt, that highlights the Alabama march.

“When we were beaten on that bridge in Selma, the people couldn’t take it, when they saw it, when they heard about it, when they read about it — there was a sense of righteous indignation. And if we see a miscarriage of justice in Ferguson, we’re going to have the same reaction people had towards Selma,” he said.

The Democratic lawmaker also told the radio audience to pace “for the long haul” over the situation in the St. Louis suburb.

“Be like a pilot light and not like a firecracker. A firecracker just pops off, and it’s gone. A pilot light will continue to burn,” he said.