HOULTON, Maine — People from several states joined the Good Trouble Lives On rally in Houlton on Thursday as part of a national day of action to honor the work of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
Tens of thousands were expected to peacefully gather in approximately 1,600 similar events across all 50 states on Thursday. While they commemorated the anniversary of Lewis’s death, they also served as protests against the policies of the new Trump administration.
About 30 protesters attended the event at the Peace Pole in downtown Houlton, carrying signs featuring messages of fighting for the rights of all people, such as one quote from Lewis himself: “Democracy is not a state, it is an act.”
A prominent civil rights activist, Lewis devoted his life to issues of social justice and standing up for what is right despite being severely beaten by Alabama state troopers in 1965 during the March from Selma to Montgomery.
Thursday’s nationwide event picked up on Lewis’ famed words, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”
In Houlton, Jen and Dan Kirchoff of Belfast were vacationing at Timoney Lake when they heard about the rally and knew they had to be there, they said.
“I am trying to attend all the ‘50-50-01’ protests,” Jen Kirchoff said, referring to the grassroots movement that aims to organize 50 mass protests against the administration’s policies in 50 states on one day.
Demonstrations were scheduled to take place in various other Maine communities including Bangor, Augusta and Portland.
Standing in the burning midday sun under a multi-colored New Orleans-style umbrella, Dan Kirchoff said initially he had been attending as many rallies as he could in Augusta — which has been the site of some of the biggest anti-Trump demonstrations in the state — but now the couple is branching off to other locations as well, he said.
Marcia Gartley of Presque Isle said she was attending the event to stand up for voting rights, and mused that Lewis must be really upset about what’s happening in America.
In Houlton, a group of about 40 to 60 people called Restore has organized six such rallies so far this year, after an initial gathering on Jan. 20 to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The group now meets twice a month to plan actions and allow its members to share concerns with like-minded people, according to group member Susan McMann.
Several of the protesters in Houlton talked about Lewis’ courage and how he never backed down. Marilyn Roper, a longtime Houlton peace activist and Restore member, recalled the time in 2016 when Lewis led a sit-in on the House floor related to the lack of action on gun violence.
“We are here to show solidarity with democracy,” McMann said.
