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Bryan and Linda Field take part in Thursday’s “Make Good Trouble” rally in Peterborough in honor John Lewis. -
Rachel Kowalsky advocates for protection of public lands, public schools and benefits for people that need them to survive at the Jaffrey protest. -
Nancy Salmon and Sue Chollet wear safety vests on the corner of routes 101 and 202 in Peterborough. -
Organizers had signs for sale as protesters joined the group in Peterborough. -
Naomi Tucker shows her version of the state motto in Peterborough. -
Tim Schloemer holds his sign in Peterborough. -
Carol Krauss, the daughter of two immigrants, holds up a sign reminding people in Peterborough that America was built by immigrants. -
Demonstrator Johanna Wilson-White in Peterborough. -
Protesters line the corner of Route 101 in Peterborough. -
Protestors wave to passing cars on Route 101 near the Peterborough Plaza. -
Rachel Kowalsky reminds passing drivers to “make good trouble” in Peterborough. -
Marcia King with her handmade sign in Peterborough. -
Cathy Runyon and Linda Mason hold up a “giant puppet” of John King created by artist Terry Reeves in Peterborough. -
Donald Wilson and Mike Greaves join the Jaffrey protest.
More than 300 Peterborough residents gathered to “make good trouble” at a rally honoring the memory of civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis Thursday evening.
The date marks five years since Lewis died at the age of 80. Francie Von Mertens, one of the organizers, said Lewis was “a hero for many.”
“He was a hero for his bravery in the violent struggle for civil rights for African-American people, for honoring nonviolence and for his empathy,” Von Mertens said.
Von Mertens pointed out that many demonstrators brought signs depicting the John Lewis quote, “If not now, when? If not us, who?”
“He was maybe best known for saying ‘Get good trouble, necessary trouble, to help redeem the soul of America.’ ” Von Mertens said.
The demonstration was part of a National Day of Action organized by Good Trouble Lives On, an movement advocating for nonviolent social protest supporting civil rights, social rights and free speech. Participants lined the sidewalks at routes 101 and 202 in Peterborough, with demonstrators standing on all four corners.
“It seems like most people are responding positively,” said demonstrator Marcia King. “We are getting so many waves and smiles.”
Bryan and Linda Field said there was “an unlimited list of reasons why we’re here.”
“We’re extremely concerned about what ICE is doing. Most of those people are not criminals, and they’re being taken without due process. We’re very concerned about the cuts to Medicaid and programs that help the poor, and they’ve done it to help the rich. I’m very concerned because the current government is ignoring the Constitution in so many ways,” Linda Field said. “The executive branch is overwhelming Congress. There are supposed to be three separate branches of government; there are supposed to be checks and balances and those are no longer there.”
Bryan Field said the United States is failing its most-vulnerable people.
“If you judge a country by how it treats the poorest and the weakest people, then we are not the greatest country in the world; we are not the best. The people who call themselves our representatives are not representatives. If you look at the polls, its clear; people are very upset,” Bryan Field said.
Linda Mason and Cathy Runyon were holding up a “giant puppet” of Lewis created out of papier maché by Terry Reeves.
“Every day is getting scarier and scarier. Our democracy is falling apart,” Mason said.
Harriet DiCicco said Lewis had always been an inspiration to her.
“I think John Lewis taught us to persist, persevere and just stand up for what’s right,” she said.
Kathy Wilson of Greenfield said she was somewhat new to taking part in demonstrations.
“It’s taken a lot of us older white women a while to get on board, and my kids are the ones who showed me how to be an activist, how to pay attention,” Wilson said. “It’s our turn.”
Naomi Tucker said while most of the responses from drivers were positive, there were some hostile responses, including vehicles who sped up and revved engines at the group.
“It’s oppressive, and it’s dangerous to be speeding on this corner when there are so many people standing here,” Tucker said. “But the majority of people have been supportive. Way more people are nice.”
“If John Lewis were still here, he would be inspiring us right now. I wish someone else would emerge who has that kind of power as a leader,” said Johanna Wilson-White.
On the same day in Jaffrey, a smaller demonstration was held at the intersection of Route 124 and Route 202. Residents who attended said they had a variety of issues driving them to speak up.
Rachel Kowalsky, who attended the Jaffrey protest, said she was “appalled” at what she was seeing going on in the government.
“The constant assault of our public lands is top of my priority, but also public education, and loss of benefits for people that desperately need them to survive,” Kowalsky said.
Mike Greaves, who also attended the Jaffrey protest, said it takes people standing up when they see something going wrong to make a difference.
“We’ve got to do something. If we let it slide, it’s going to keep sliding — and we don’t want the slide,” Greaves said. “It’s going the wrong way for America.”
Donald Wilson said he was there to object to the erosion of civil and constitutional rights, and in particular, he was disturbed by the cuts to Medicaid.
“It’s unconscionable,” Wilson said. “There are going to be millions of people left to suffer. There are going to be thousands of rural hospitals that are closing. There are simply not going to be adequate or appropriate medical care for a significant portion of our population.”