U.S. Rep. John Lewis avoids Trump talk, focuses on gun violence

Congressman speaks to Miami students after shooting that injured 8

MIAMI ā€“ U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., spent a second consecutive day in South Florida, urging students to end the violence like the shooting that happened Monday at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park.

The civil rights icon spoke to students Tuesday at the iTech Thomas A. Edison Educational Center in Miami on the day after Martin Luther Luther King Jr. Day.

"Do away with your guns," Lewis said. "Put your guns down. It's too many guns, too many guns."

The congressman's words came less than 24 hours after eight people were shot on a day meant for celebrating the life and accomplishments of Lewis' friend.

"Stay away from the violence," Lewis said. "We've lost too many of our young men."

Lewis was invited to speak by the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a program aimed at intervening in the lives of at-risk young males. He spoke passionately and pushed the students to block out the negativity surrounding them.

"Hang in there," Lewis said. "I know it's hard sometimes."

One topic Lewis avoided was President-elect Donald Trump, who took to Twitter to call the congressman "all talk, talk, talk -- no action."

Lewis is among more than 30 members of Congress who are boycotting Trump's inauguration.

Instead of discussing Trump, Lewis spoke about the work he and so many others had done to help make progress in the civil rights movement.

"Come and walk in my shoes," Lewis said. "I will show you change."