#RolandMartinUnfiltered Celebrates The Life And Legacy Of Former Congressman John Conyers

Former Democratic Congressman John Conyers Jr. of Michigan who was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and first introduced Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday, has died. A family spokeswoman said that Conyers died in his sleep at his Detroit home of natural causes. Conyers has a rich legacy that should be celebrated. He came to Washington as a congressman in 1965 when there were only six black House members. That same year, he was a cosponsor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He traveled to Selma and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. After King was assassinated in 1968, Conyers introduced legislation to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. He fought that fight for 15 years, reintroducing the bill every session until 1983, when it was signed into law by President Reagan.

Conyers was one of 13 black Representatives to found the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971. President Nixon refused to recognize the group, leading them to boycott the 1971 State of the Union address. He was later discovered to be on Nixon's infamous "Enemies List.

Rep. Al Green of Texas spoke with Roland Martin about the legacy of former Congressman John Conyers during Monday's edition of #RolandMartinUnfiltered.

Watch the 10.28.19 edition of #RolandMartinUnfiltered

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