Thousands are expected to pay their respects to the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) Thursday as he becomes the first African-American lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol.
Per Politico, his casket will also be placed near a statue of Rosa Parks just feet away from a bust of Jefferson Davis, symbolic of the race battles Cummings devoted much of his life to fighting.
Many high profile Democrats are slated to speak, including former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), an unexpectedly close friend of Cummings despite the men’s polar opposite politics, will also speak.
His funeral will be held at his church in Baltimore on Friday. The legendary congressman died on October 17 of longstanding health problems.
