On July 17, thousands gathered across the nation for ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ rallies inspired by the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis.
The day marked the fifth anniversary of Lewis’s death, and in Atlanta, protesters gathered at the ‘Hero’ mural located at the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Jesse Hill Jr. They set off on a march towards the King Center, where a vibrant block party and protest were organized to turn remembrance into action.
Local civil rights leaders held a press conference at the event, addressing several urgent national issues including immigration, the recently passed tax and spending cut bill, and the dismissal of thousands of federal workers.
Among the speakers were Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda; Andrea Young, director of the ACLU of Georgia; Fredrick Ingram, a member of the AFT; Mawuli Davis, an attorney at Davis Bozeman Johnson Law; and Kimberly King, representing the League of Women Voters Atlanta/Fulton as well as the AFT.
Andrea Young inspired the crowd of over a hundred people with a powerful quote from John Lewis, urging them to pursue justice.
She recalled Lewis’s words: ‘Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life, I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and non-violence, is the more excellent way. Now it is your time to help freedom ring.’
Young emphasized the importance of non-violent social action as a means to fight against injustice and highlighted the collective power of their presence.
‘When the Trump government kidnaps our neighbors, we dissent.
When the Trump government demands voter lists kept by the states, we dissent.
When the Trump-led congress takes food and health care away from our children, our seniors, and our disabled citizens, we dissent.
When the Trump government tries to revoke birthright citizenship, we dissent,’ she proclaimed, rallying the crowd.
The audience echoed her sentiments in chants advocating for dissent, which contributed to the energy of the day as they committed to causing some ‘necessary trouble.’
The speakers also touched on the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed significant reductions to the Department of Education’s powers.
Fredrick Ingram, who traveled from Washington, D.C. to participate in the Atlanta rally, reiterated the need to maintain momentum in the fight against societal injustices.
‘They’re trying to dumb down a generation of citizens. They’re trying to dumb down this country so that they can implement all kinds of foolishness around us.
And we’ve got to be smarter than that,’ Ingram stated passionately.
He recalled a time when education was denied to people of color and women in the United States and emphasized that such regression would not be tolerated.
‘John Lewis urges us to find some good trouble. I believe brother Lewis was on to something when he talked about trouble because in my church, they say trouble don’t last always.’
This rally, along with those held nationwide, served not only as a tribute to John Lewis but also as a clarion call for continued activism against perceived injustices under the Trump administration.
image source from：theatlantavoice
