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Bringing ‘Good Trouble’ to Alameda

by Post Staff Reporting On In News | Comments Disabled

Alamedans honored the legacy of Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis on Thursday, July 17, with a rally at City Hall followed by a march to the Alameda Theatre for a free showing of John Lewis: Good Trouble [1].

Alameda Post - people gathered outside Alameda City Hall [2]
Participants gathered at Alameda City Hall for speeches and dances before moving along to the Alameda Theatre. Photo by Catherine Egelhoff.

Event organizer Amos White, an Alameda activist with ACLU People Power [3], said Lewis is an inspiration for many in this time of attacks on democracy, civil rights, and basic human compassion. Lewis is famous for his comment, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

At the rally, White said Lewis’ lifelong perseverance, from marching for civil rights in the South as a teen to his later years as a congressman, teaches, “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Alameda Post - Rally participants outside City Hall line dance to Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up." Berkeley Poet Laureate Aya DeLeon, front center, led the moves. [4]
Rally participants outside City Hall line dance to Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up.” Berkeley Poet Laureate Aya DeLeon, front center, led the moves. Photo by Valerie Landau.

More than 300 Alamedans participated in the rally, march, film screening and teach-in. The local events were among hundreds nationwide to mark July 17, the five-year anniversary of Lewis’ passing at age 80.

The rally outside City Hall included comments from Councilmembers Tracy Jensen and Michelle Pryor, as well Alameda League of Women Voters [5] (LWV) President Anna Crane and LWV Secretary and Youth Outreach leader Genevieve Yuen. Yuen said, “Youth are ready to come together for civil rights.”

Berkeley Poet Laureate Aya de León and Becca Todd led a spirited line dance for democracy to the tune of Bob Marley’s song, “Get Up, Stand Up.” The lyrics [6] encourage listeners to “get up, stand up for your right, don’t give up the fight.”

After dancing, the rally crowd picked up their signs to march to the Alameda Theatre. White thanked the theater for opening its doors so Alamedans could experience this moving biographical documentary about Lewis’ life.

Alameda Post - A woman holds up a "We the People" sign inside the Alameda Theatre. [7]
As rally-goers were taking their seats at the Alameda Theatre, some shared their signs with the crowd. Photo by Valerie Landau.

The teach-in involved student leaders and educators, including playwright Dr. Cindy Acker, students with the Civic Action Group at Alameda High School, and Reverend Michael Yoshii, Pastor Emeritus at the Buena Vista [8]United Methodist Church [8] in Alameda [8].

Special speaker Charles Reed, Founding Director of Lifers Leaving a Legacy [9], described overcoming incarceration and disability to take action today to help others. He called strongly for showing up to vote.

White also thanked the many others who spoke, performed, and helped to organize the events including Tina Davis of Indivisible-Alameda, Shalom Bruhn of EB-FLOW, and Mary Claire Neumann of All Rise Alameda.

Learn about future events and ways to take action for democracy in calendars posted on the All Rise Alameda [10] website.