By ideastream's Brian Bull
Since the early morning hours, people have been passing through Cleveland City Hall to pay their final respects to former congressman, Louis Stokes, who died last week.
Stokes was Ohio’s first African-American Congressman, as well as a renowned attorney who championed civil rights and argued several key cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including one that shaped police stop and frisk protocols.
Among those celebrating Stokes’ legacy is JoAnn Neal, a lifelong Clevelander who works as a legal aide in the downtown area. She met Stokes in the 1970s, when her high school class visited him on Capitol Hill.
Neal says both the Congressman and his brother, Carl B. Stokes, Cleveland’s first black mayor, made important gains for the African-American community.
“And you kinda wonder who’ll be the next pioneer for Cleveland to do as many things and have as big of an impact as they both did," says Neal. "We gotta see who’s gonna pick up the banner and keep it movin’. But there’s just so much, so many more things that need to be done.”
Stokes revealed last month he had lung and brain cancer, and last Tuesday, died at the age of 90.
Following the public viewing, there will be an “in appreciation” program where the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity will pay tribute, and officials including Stokes’ friend and congressional colleague, retired Representative William Lacy Clay, will make remarks.