People across the country took to the streets Thursday to commemorate the late United States representative and civil rights leader John Lewis – while raising a little “good trouble” along the way.
It was the five-year anniversary of Lewis’ passing and the ralliers weren’t just there to celebrate him, but to protest the Trump administration too.
La Jolla was no exception. The La Jolla rally began at 5:15 p.m. and ran more than 45 minutes.
“I can’t speak for everybody here, but those of us who are lucky enough to live in La Jolla are fortunate. We have to stand here, not for Democrats or Republicans, red or blue, but for every person who’s being hurt,” said Susan Liberman, an organizer of the event.
While the event was organized in honor of Lewis, many in attendance were there solely to speak out against the current administration.
“I’m accumulating rallies. It has nothing to do with John Lewis,” said Z Kripke, an 87-year-old living in La Jolla.
Kripke, a former pediatrician, said she is a longtime activist. Thursday’s rally wasn’t her first and wouldn’t be her last, she said. She thought the La Jolla event was especially important because it’s a community with differing opinions.
While La Jolla locals led the charge at the rally, they were joined by people from out of state as well. Brent Ferguson is from the East Coast but was in town visiting family. He joined in, waving his copy of
On Tyranny
by Timothy Snyder.
Get La Jolla Village News in your inbox – community news that connects and informs.
Sign up to get free La Jolla news weekly – along with the Times of San Diego daily at 8 a.m. and breaking news. Update at any time. By clicking sign up, you agree to the
terms
.
“This is celebrating the life and the legacy of John Lewis on the anniversary of his death five years ago, and I think each month, there are protests organized to stand up for important moments,” Ferguson said.
Lewis served in the House of Representatives for 33 years from 1987 until his death at 80 in 2020. Before that, he was the chairman of the
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
, which helped orchestrate nonviolent protests such as sit-ins during the civil rights movement. Lewis was known as one of the “Big Six,” referring to key activists and leaders, including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the civil rights movement.
Lewis was known for the phrase “good trouble,” explaining how peaceful protesting was a positive way to bring attention to issues – causing some “trouble” without getting violent.
Nancy Vincent and Cary Shillington said they were there to cause a little bit of good trouble themselves. They carried a sign with Lewis’s words, “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
Get neighborhood news in your inbox. It’s free and enlightening.
Join the 20,000+ people who get Times of San Diego in their inbox at 8 a.m. every day – plus breaking news alerts.
We’ve also added weekly updates from San Diego neighborhoods! By clicking sign up, you agree to the
terms
. Select below.
They were not the only signs bearing Lewis’s sentiments at the rally. Many carried Lewis’ words or his portrait.
While some people were there to honor Lewis, or at least emulate what he stood for, most rallied to speak their minds and show their disapproval of the government.
Supportive honks were shared by cars passing by and chants broke out sporadically throughout the rally.
“Show me what democracy looks like!” someone called out. Attendees chanted back, “This is what democracy looks like!”
The La Jolla rally was
one of several
in San Diego Thursday. Similar rallies ran all day, starting at 10 a.m. Events honoring Lewis also took place across the country.
