Some snaps from the John Lewis “Good Trouble’ march in Nashville, Saturday, July 19, 2025 A.D.. These went on all over the country, but in Nashville, there is annual celebration, as Lewis had deep roots here, connected to the Civil Rights movement and his time in the city, as he graduated from both Fisk University and the American Baptist Theological seminary and engaged in civil rights advocacy, as part of the Nashville Student Movement and became one of the 13 original Freedom Riders. Before the march, there was a gathering honoring him and other social justice pioneers; a bevy of posters honoring Diane Nash lined the dais; first generation freedom riders were in the audience; scholarships were given to HBCUs and our resolute Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones spoke, pointing out that what he saw in front of him was the real Nashville – interracial, intercultural, intergenerational. And, his words drew us to the present moment and our charge.
After that, the march took us down John Lewis Way, past where the historic Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins took place, past a mural honoring the man, to the Ryman Auditorium, where someone hung an upside-down flag on the statue of Captain Tom Ryman, which I thought was a perfect touch. As I left, I saw this sign on the back of this man’s motorized wheelchair, which just goes to show that, yes, we can all do something.
As Lewis said, we all must “get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Props to my music and hardball chum Charlie Degenhart for joining me on the latest rabble-rousing.
Doug Hoekstra 