PROTEST GATHERING A capacity crowd filled New Memories in Parksville for speeches and music honoring the late Rep. John R. Lewis and his activism. Art Steinhauer photo
Rally celebrates life of Rep. Lewis
By Manor Ink Staff
Parksville, NY – In celebration of the courage and commitment of the late Congressman John R. Lewis, well over 100 people crammed into New Memories in this hamlet on Thursday, July 17, to protest the policies and actions of the Trump Administration and the One Big Beautiful Bill’s taxation provisions and spending cuts.
The standing-room-only crowd first heard from master-of-ceremonies Kenneth Wampler. He explained that the Department of Parks & Recreation in Liberty would not allow the event to occur as originally scheduled in Hanofee Park, and thanked the owners of New Memories for enabling the event to proceed. He said that the theme for the evening was Lewis’ admonition to “do good trouble” and perform necessary acts of civil protest and nonviolent disobedience in confronting injustice and bringing about positive social change.
FIERY The Rev. Douglas Bowman urges listeners to “stand up for what is right.” Art Steinhauer photo
Wampler described recent events as “attacks on our health care, freedoms and even our national security.” He said we are seeing a dismantling of voting and protest rights, and challenged the audience to “take our democracy back.” Echoing Lewis, Wampler said, “‘Good trouble’ means getting angry about what is happening and we are the true Americans.”
Lou Setren of the Sullivan County Community Chorus then led the gathering through a beautiful rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
Maria Christina Martinez of New York’s Rural Migrant Ministry then spoke about how her parents were arrested at 6 a.m. one morning and deported during the first Trump Administration, describing “the horror experienced by children when their parents are hauled away.” She added that “hatred that was kept quiet then is now right out in the open.” The Rev. Douglas Bowman, pastor of the New Directions Baptist Church in Liberty, then gave a fiery address for “standing up for what is right and ending the madness.”
The evening ended with moving renditions of the African American anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” sung by Gail Houston, a gospel, blues and jazz vocalist.