OBAMA: "This country is a constant work in progress. We're born with instructions. To form a more perfect union. Explicit in those words is the idea that we're imperfect. That what gives each new generation purpose is to take up the unfinished work of the last & carry it further"

OBAMA: "We know what happened to the marchers that day. Their bones were cracked by billy clubs, their eyes choked with tear gas ... The thing is, I imagine initially, that day, the troopers thought they had won the battle."

"America was built by John Lewises"

OBAMA: "As exceptional as John was, here's the thing, he never believed what he did was more than any citizen of this country can do... this idea that any of us can do what he did if we're willing to pursue it. He believed in all of us there exists the capacity for great courage"

OBAMA: "George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our govt sending agents to use tear gas & batons against peaceful demonstrators ... even undermining the postal service in the run up to an election that's going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don't get sick!"

OBAMA: "Like John, we've got to fight even harder for the most powerful tool that we have, which is the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act is one of the crowning achievements of our democracy. That's why John crossed that bridge. It's why he spilled his blood."

OBAMA: "As long as young people are protesting in the streets, hoping real change takes hold, I'm hopeful ... [but] we can't treat voting as an errand to run if we have some time. We have to treat it as the most important action we can take on behalf of democracy."

OBAMA: "What a gift John Lewis was. We are all so lucky to have had him walk with us for a while, and show us the way. God bless you all. God bless America. God bless this gentle soul who pulled it closer to its promise. Thank you very much."