"There are forces that want to divide us, and we must not be divided," John Lewis said. | AP Photo John Lewis: 'Some forces in America trying to take us back to another period'

Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who played a key role in the civil rights movement, said Sunday that he sees forces trying to divide the American people in this presidential campaign year.

Lewis, who spoke with John Dickerson on CBS News' Face The Nation in a pre-taped interview at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, said white and African-American colleagues that he knew in '63 and '64 died together and that "we must not let their death be in vain."


"There are forces that want to divide us, and we must not be divided," the Georgia Democrat said. "We've come so far and made so much progress by working and building together."

Throughout the election cycle, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have tried to broaden their appeal to African-American voters. Trump even predicted he will win 95 percent of the African-American vote in his reelection bid. Lewis said he saw sinister forces at work this year.

"I think there are some forces in America trying to take us back to another period, but we must not let that happen," Lewis told Dickerson.

Trump recently conceded that President Barack Obama was in fact born in the United States, a claim the GOP nominee falsely suggested otherwise for years — a sore spot for some African Americans.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, the newest Smithsonian museum in Washington, is opening this month. Lewis spent 15 years helping to establish the new museum.

Dickerson asked if Lewis ever thought he would see a monument like the museum.

"No, I never thought, I never dreamed that one day there would be a monument, there would be a museum, telling the story and the history of African Americans from the days of slavery to the present."