John Legend and Common gave a rousing performance of their Academy Award-winning song “Glory” on the 2020 Democratic National Convention stage Thursday night.
The musicians delivered an impassioned rendition of their 2014 hit — which appeared in the film “Selma” — in honor of the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who died July 17 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The performance followed a five-minute video tribute to the civil rights icon, which included words of praise from longtime Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, who died last October.
“One of the things that John taught us is that you may have to sacrifice, but if you sacrifice for a cause, something bigger than you, and you really believe in it, then you will have people following you,” Cummings said.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms introduced the clip, honoring Lewis as a champion of voting rights.
“We must pass on the gift that John Lewis sacrificed to give us, we must register, and we must vote,” Bottoms said.
“Selma” focused on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery, led by Martin Luther King Jr., Hosea Williams and Lewis. The late lawmaker was portrayed by Canadian actor Stephan James in the film.