Grayson County community members came together Thursday to continue the work of the late Civil Rights leader John Lewis and his decades-long push for equality and civil rights in America. Area residents gathered at the steps of Grayson County Courthouse Thursday evening as a part of national “Good Trouble Lives On” protest taking place across the country.
The events were scheduled on the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death on July 17, 2020. For more than 30 years, Lewis served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Georgia from 1987 until his death. Lewis is known for using the phrase “good trouble” to describe the need to take action toward positive change despite the personal consequences of pushing against the status quo.
“We are commemorating the life and legacy of John Lewis, and we are joining many, many other groups across the nation on this July 17 — which is the fifth anniversary of his passing,” Grayson County NAACP President and speaker Al Hambrick said. “I think it is a great way to honor his work and his passion for civil rights.”
Lewis rose to fame in the 1960s by being a part of the numerous civil rights protests and marches, including the Nashville sit-ins, Freedom Rides and being one of the “big six” leaders who coordinated the 1963 March on Washington. Lewis was also injured while trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge during a protest in Selma, Alabama that has gone on to be known as “Bloody Sunday” due to the violence committed against the protesters.
“He was a good man, and he talked about causing good trouble,” local event organizer Barbara Rushing said. “I don’t know about the trouble part here in Grayson County, but we do raise a lot of sound in protests of all the things that are taking place in the Trump Administration.”
The concept of “good trouble” is one that continued to follow Lewis through his career as a Civil Rights leader and into his work in congress.
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime,” he wrote in an X post in 2018. “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
“It means not being afraid to speak up, to says and do what needs to be done, to be a good servant for the people, and that is one thing I admire about John,” Hambrick said. “He was a good congressman, but he was not bashful about trying to push people to do the right thing for all people, not just people of color, but all people.”
While many of Lewis’ fights took place in the 1960s, many of the topics and issues he pushed continue to resonate today, Hambrick said. Hambrick spoke regarding the cuts to many social services budgets that were made in the “Big Beautiful Bill” by the Trump administration.
“I feel for families that are struggling right now, and with those cuts this is going to get even harder,” he said. “I think sometimes we really don’t zero in on how hard it is for some people and families, but I think it incumbent upon us as we call ourselves leaders to pay attention and try to get others to understand what is going on.”
Pediatrician Jeannine Hatt, who along with Hambrick served as a speaker during the event, said she was concerned for than 37 million children, including nearly 6 million in Texas, that could lose access to healthcare under the bill. She also expressed concerns regarding ongoing cuts to international aid that are taking place.
For her part, Rushing said she hoped to bring awareness to attacks and limitations on civil rights taking place, including limitations on voting rights in Texas.
“I want people to be inspired to continue to protest, continue to raise their voices, continue to make those calls and letters to their representatives about all these issues,” she said. “The louder we are, and the more persistent we are, the better chance we stand in making a difference”
