MONTEREY >> Locals traded relaxation for resistance Thursday evening and participated in one of the many nationwide protests honoring the late civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis in an event titled “Good Trouble Lives On.”

“That’s what Congressman John Lewis was about. You got to make that extra effort to get in a little bit of good trouble,” said Kim Barber, a Monterey councilmember who was a featured speaker at the event at the city’s Window on the Bay park.

Despite being held on a weeknight, event organizers counted about 1,182 people in attendance. Most of the crowd lined Del Monte Avenue, displaying signs to passing cars. Members of Service Employees International Union marched through protesters chanting “Si, se puede” (Yes, you can) into their megaphones. A group of people in black cloaks and white plastic masks conducted a funereal march carrying a casket with the American flag draped over it, holding signs that read, “R.I.P. democracy” and “Next: Martial Law.”

John Ganzel, a Monterey resident and frequent protester said, “The protest signifies that we have a problem in our country.”

This year marks the fifth anniversary of John Lewis’ death, but the first nationwide protests conducted in his name. Lewis was an advocate for making “good trouble” through peaceful acts of resistance. One of the many ways he did so in his lifetime was by purposely not attending President Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. Thursday resembled last month’s “No Kings” protest with signs and demonstrations showing disapproval of the current presidential administration.

“I think people are ready. They’re ready to resist and continue to resist and, you know, they’re committed,” said Lisa Fimby-Dukart, one of several protest site-managers. The position was created following the “No Kings” protest to help event coordinators organize the crowd.

Fimby-Dukart is a first-time protest organizer, but a longtime participant and volunteer. One of her favorite things about being a part of local activism is meeting first-time protesters.

“That’s part of why we do this, so people know they’re not alone in how they’re feeling,” Fimby-Dukart said. “Everybody’s feeling uncomfortable, or a lot of people are, and we want to let them know that there are people like them. We’re here to help and support them.”

The demographic of people lining the roadside in protest varied widely. Many protestors were gray-haired, but there were also several young adults and families in attendance.

Barber spoke to the crowd alongside keynote speaker Glodean Champion and Lyndon Tarver, president of NAACP’s Monterey branch. Micheal Eaglesong also led a singalong with the Vocal Activists of Monterey Peninsula featuring lyrics inspired by the life of John Lewis.

In her speech, Barber emphasized, “Democracy doesn’t have a color. Democracy doesn’t have a gender. Democracy doesn’t have an identity. Democracy is for all.” Ella Hrusa, a Monterey County native, was pleased to see the number of people in her hometown gathering in dissent, having been frustrated with the conversations she’s had recently.

“That’s kind of the hard part about living in Monterey,” said Hrusa. “It’s kind of a bubble, so a lot of people are like, ‘It’s not going to affect us. We’ll not see it. We won’t feel it.’ But unfortunately we are going to feel it and we will see it and they just don’t see it yet.”

“When you’re seeing quiet areas get louder, that means the urgency for democracy is vital,” Barber said. “When we see this magnitude happen in what we call a quiet place, then we know the urgency is great.” Toward the end of the protest, a recording of John Lewis’ commencement speech for Emory University’s graduating class of 2014 was played — featuring an iteration of his famous phrase, “Make good trouble.” “I feel like he did his part,” Barber said, now it’s time for us to do our part and take the baton.”

Layna Hughes is a student journalist at Cal State Monterey Bay.