The body of Georgia Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who died last Friday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80 years old, will lie in state at the Capitol on Monday and Tuesday of next week, reports USA Today.
Congress and invited dignitaries will have the opportunity to honor Lewis in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday morning through early afternoon, when a memorial is scheduled to take place.
In an unusual arrangement, his body will then be moved outside to facilitate visitation by the public while still maintaining proper social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Because of the pandemic, Lewis’s family has asked that people not travel to Washington, DC to pay their respects. Instead, the family requests people post their respects via social media using hashtags #BelovedCommunity or #HumanDignity.
The White House has not announced whether President Trump will attend the ceremony. Trump was criticized for taking more than 15 hours to honor Lewis after he died, opting to play a round of golf before tweeting condolences to “he and his family.”