Genevieve & Sophia

On July 17th at 4pm, a small but mighty group of roughly 25 people gathered on Buchanan Street and San Pablo Avenue in Albany, California. The date of this peaceful protest marked the sixth anniversary of Civil Rights leader John Lewis’s passing. It was a part of a mass mobilization across America, proving that local communities will still turn out for what they believe in, no matter the crowd size or the hour.

John Lewis’ famous quote states: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” Lewis was an influential civil rights activist who started off as a Freedom Rider and at lunch counter sit-ins. In 1965, Lewis led over 600 peaceful protesters to fight for voting rights, where they faced harsh violence and the event is now known as “Bloody Sunday.” Nevertheless, the protest made its impact and served a pivotal role to gain national support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Later, Lewis served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020, due to cancer. In the present climate, John’s courageousness inspires many; his life’s mission of fighting for equitable voting is a reminder that our own fight must continue on.

“It’s nice to be out and have people honk… even if there’s a few. Before, when I’ve had a smaller event, people [wouldn’t], and now they’re honking… at smaller events.” Gail Atilano told us, noticing a shift in public reaction to small events. Even on the busy street of San Pablo, cars noticed the signs and sent their support our way. These little moments of kindness remind us how much our community stands with us, and fosters greater confidence in ourselves as protesters, knowing that the message we are fighting for is being seen and supported.

“If for no other reason, it gives us a chance to talk with one another, and talk about what’s effective, and what’s been on the news, and what we can do to help democracy survive.” Steve Blumenkrantz noted, adding that rallies aren’t just about getting a reaction out of outsiders: it is also about connecting the activists themselves. A small turnout can be a positive thing, as it creates an intimate space for dialogue and allows citizens and members to educate each other and plan future actions. In this small rally, members were able to share about recent events they attended, their thoughts on the news, and more. This proves how much of an impact showing up creates, whether it is small or large.

–Genevieve Yang and Sophia Lara