John Lewis’ ‘Good Trouble’ lives on in messages of resistance

by Janice Drickey

​There is perhaps no single figure whose own life and career embodied the promise, success, and continued challenges of civil rights for Black Americans than John Lewis. To honor the anniversary of Lewis’s passing on July 17, 2020 at 80 years of age, Clallam County residents again lined the streets make some ‘Good Trouble’ in his memory. Read on to find out why Clallam County residents felt it was important to attend the Good Trouble Lives On rally on July 17 in Sequim, and the signs they made to express their concerns about the future of democracy.

​Nati, Sequim: I’m here today cause it’s important to let other people know that you still need to raise your voice, even if you’re afraid in this situation that it won’t be acceptable or you’re going to be called out for it. [Top of mind for me are] the ICE abuses, lack of due process, Alligator Alcatraz, taking people without warrants, the fact that [ICE agents] are behaving like the secret police.”

---

Maja, Sequim: “I’m here [at] every demonstration because I fear losing our democracy.”

---

Suzanne, Sequim: “If it’s going to be [ICE] picking up people, the next thing you know, I’m going to have to walk around with my passport so they know that I am actually a citizen of the United States and that is not right. It’s not right that [ICE is picking people up], [and] it needs to stop.” 

Jim, Sequim: “I’m here because I think there’s a lot going wrong. [Top of mind for me is] Congress. ” 

---

Mike, Sequim: “I was in the military. I was both in the Army and in the Coast Guard, and we didn’t fight for somebody to be a dictator, so that’s why I’m here. I’m fighting for democracy the only way I know how. I’ve never protested in my life, not even during Vietnam War, but this is important.”

---

​Martine, Sequim: “I felt like we don’t have any choice (but to protest). Our country is going to go down in flames. The whole Cabinet that [Trump] chose, everything is just a mockery of our democracy and our country. It’s disturbing to watch the ICE agents as they make such a complete spectacle and a mockery of all these human beings.”

---

​Jack, Sequim: “It’s important because there is so much eroding our democracy right now that we need to show support and stand up to what we believe in, and that’s First Amendment Rights. Everybody needs Due Process and we can’t fall under a dictatorship.”

Lisa, Port Angeles:  “I keep hearing from historians that study authoritarianism that we are in what is called ‘an authoritarian break.’ It’s a very dangerous time where we have to stand up, we have to resist, and we have to stop this very quick slide towards having no choice left. So we have to speak out, now and loudly and often and in every way possible to diminish the pillars that support authoritarianism.” 

---

​Sawyer, goes to PA School District, lives in Sequim: “I have very strong feelings about this because, honestly, I have a few friends who are LBGQT and I don’t want to see them discriminated [against]. People in this country came here because it was a free country, not just because they needed to get away from elsewhere, but because they wanted to be free. And Trump is taking that away from them. And I don’t appreciate that.”

​Jacquelyn, unincorporated PA: “Things are getting worse before anything is going to start changing. Everybody has to get busy. Until everyone starts figuring out that everything is getting worse, it can’t turn around.”

​Hans, Sequim: [“I’m here because of] ICE masking up and arresting immigrants without warrants and without credence. And because I love my country and I’m a patriot and I think we need to stand up for it.” 

---

​Kate, Sequim: “I think my biggest reason [for being here] today is the corruption of the justice system and the way it’s being broken down right now. We can’t lose our fundamentals of this country and still be the United States.”

---

​Debbie, Sequim: “I’ve been here [in Sequim] about 50 years and I think we just have to stand up and say what’s going on is wrong, and we have to make it visible so we help encourage other people to do the same thing.”

​Carole Murphy, Sequim: “I’m here because I think we need to stand together as people and stand up to the threats that are happening with our democracy, not just from Trump, but with the Supreme Court, with his Cabinet, with Congress. They are all just following in line with breaking the law and going against the Constitution. We need to stand up and make sure that our voices are heard in numbers. It’s about the only thing that I think will help at this point. We’ve had leadership in the past, we have some leaders now, but I think it’s time for the people to stand up and speak out and make sure that we steer the country in a better direction.

---