John Lewis dedicated his existence – often risking his very life – in support of ensuring that every American could register, vote and be assured their vote was counted. During his 80 years on our earth, John Lewis seemed to get into one scrape of “good trouble” after another.
On Thursday evening, July 17, the fifth anniversary of the death of the late Georgia Congressman John R. Lewis, more than 150 citizens from the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck gathered on the grounds of the Middlesex County Historic Courthouse in Saluda to commemorate the legacy of the late civil rights activist, and to recall his resonant mantra, “We must make good trouble, necessary trouble” — urging fresh activism to safeguard democracy and equality.
With hot, humid weather, but clear sunny skies, the crowd lined General Puller Highway with signs and placards protesting the limitations of voting rights and promoting the protection of civil liberties provided under the Constitution. As music promoting civic activism streamed in the background, the group joined in chants of “Make Good Trouble” and “Protect Free Speech” to the supporting honks of passing motorists.
The event was part of a “national day of nonviolent action” organized by GoodTroubleLivesOn.org and was one of nearly 1,700 similar rallies in cities and communities across the United States. Locally, it was promoted by the NAACP Middlesex Branch as well as the Democratic Committees of Middlesex, Lancaster, and Northumberland counties.
Recounting the events that propelled John Lewis to the forefront of the civil rights movement, Jim Hendrickson, chairman of the Northumberland Democratic Committee, asked listeners if they had the courage to take those steps towards justice, in the same way John Lewis chose to face hatred in crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Ala., on Bloody Sunday in 1965.
The keynote address was “We Must Grow Through This,” given by the Rev. Dr. Ulysess Edward Turner Jr., pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Lively. As a former football standout at Virginia Union University and a coach at Morehouse College and Norfolk State University, Rev. Dr. Turner was the first Black football coach in Lancaster County. Having gone on to receive a doctoral degree in Ministry from Houston Theological Seminary, he likened the adversities faced by the children of Israel under the pharaoh of Egypt to the current treatment faced by immigrants, minority groups, and those whose ideas differ from those in power.
Inspired by the event, Hallie Holmes, local chairman for the Middlesex Democratic Committee, shared her favorite John Lewis quote on making a difference in these times: “Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.”
