Dems wish civil rights icon John Lewis happy birthday: ‘We are stronger because of you’

Top Democrats took to Twitter to send happy birthday wishes to civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who turned 79 on Thursday.

{mosads}Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) shared a video of Lewis and other lawmakers dancing to Pharrell’s “Happy” at a Congressional Black Caucus meeting in her message to the veteran lawmaker.

“Happy birthday ⁦[Rep. John Lewis]⁩, looking forward to making #goodtrouble with you for years to come!” Omar wrote.

Happy birthday ⁦@repjohnlewis⁩, looking forward to making #goodtrouble with you for years to come! pic.twitter.com/v8c7mq5u6s

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 21, 2019

Others also used the hashtag “#GoodTrouble” to honor Lewis, who has urged activists to get into “good trouble, necessary trouble” to push for social change in the U.S.

Lewis, who has served in Congress since 1986, famously marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery, Ala., and has been repeatedly honored for his civil rights leadership. In 2011, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Obama.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who is running for president in 2020, shared a photo of her and Lewis marching together in Selma to mark the 53rd anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” Selma march in 1965.

“Want to take a moment to celebrate a Civil Rights icon on his day,” she wrote. “[Rep. John Lewis] we are stronger because of you. Happy Birthday!!!”

Want to take a moment to celebrate a Civil Rights icon on his day. @repjohnlewis we are stronger because of you. Happy Birthday!!! #GoodTrouble pic.twitter.com/wrpypPySe6

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 22, 2019

Others sending the longtime Democrat birthday wishes included Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), another 2020 candidate.

To the man who taught us how to cause #goodtrouble & brings values to the fore everyday. It’s an honor to serve in Congress with you. Happy birthday @repjohnlewis

— Rep Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 22, 2019

From a bridge in Selma to the floor of the U.S. House, John Lewis has never stopped marching in order to make our country a more equitable, just, and perfect union. Happy birthday to a true American hero. pic.twitter.com/yTSzf06qpP

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) February 22, 2019

Happy Birthday to my friend and a true American hero, Rep. John Lewis. John inspires us all to fight for what’s right – no matter how hard that fight may be. I’m honored to make #GoodTrouble alongside you. pic.twitter.com/bBMk5ZyFtX

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 22, 2019