Lewis and attacker receive award

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) joined with his one-time attacker to receive a joint award last night.

Lewis was brutally beaten in 1961 while participating in a civil rights demonstration at a bus station in South Carolina. In January, the man who beat him, Elwin Wilson, met with the Congrsesman and apologized.

The two received the "Common Ground" award, which honors outstanding accomplishments in conflict resolution, negotiation, community building, and peacebuilding."

"I was gratified when Elwin Wilson said he wanted to meet me and apologize," Lewis said in a statement.  "In all my years, no one who has ever attacked me has offered an olive branch. What he did took courage, and I respect his continued efforts to try to heal the divide caused by racial hatred and violence."

The ceremony took place at the Canadian Embassy.