By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last…– John Lewis
“Good Trouble Lives On” protests are scheduled to take place in cities across all 50 U.S. states, including Toledo, on Thursday, July 17, the anniversary of civil rights icon John Lewis’ death in 2020.
The organized peaceful action echoes Lewis’ own prophetic activism and call to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble… and help redeem the soul of America,” focusing on actively defending voting rights, challenging attacks on civil liberties, advocating against cuts to programs like Medicaid, and resisting policy rollbacks affecting working communities, women and other minorities.
I spoke with Melissa Portala, co-founder of Toledo Persists and one of the lead voices behind Toledo’s “Good Trouble” protest event. Here is what she had to say about Toledo’s effort to continue John Lewis’ legacy of righteous resistance for such a time as this.
Perryman: What does John Lewis’s legacy mean to you personally?
Portala: For me, it’s a lesson for all of us in perseverance. I believe in never stopping and continuing to strive, pushing on every lever that’s available to me. I see John Lewis as an example of that, and I have always found his words inspiring.
Perryman: Why is it important to organize this protest now, and how does it reflect the spirit of what John Lewis talked about when he said “good trouble?”
Portala: I think he meant to keep on bothering the powers that be, keeping on being in their faces, letting them know that we see what they’re doing, we don’t condone what they’re doing, and we’re watching what they’re doing. Additionally, it is crucial to demonstrate to the public that pushback is occurring. When you have 8,000-10,000 people show up, as we did last time, and everybody posts about it on their social media, it demonstrates to the public that resistance is occurring, which leads to more and more people joining us as a result.
Perryman: What are the core demands or the messages behind this July 17 protest action?
Portala: We don’t have demands. When I started this group, the goal was to attract more Democrats and improve the Democratic Party. They need to be better, and we actually need more of them because you can see what’s going on in the State House. The Republicans have a super majority, and they have inflicted critical pain upon us now. So, we don’t even have the checks and balances. That’s why sometimes the Democrats are not perfect, but at least the Republicans wouldn’t be able to do this kind of damage.
Perryman: Please explain.
Portala: The Republicans have this structural advantage across the country that makes me absolutely crazy. They wouldn’t have the U.S. House if they didn’t gerrymander Ohio. If they didn’t have the federal House, they couldn’t have passed their budget, which just made the U.S. the biggest police state in the entire world, with secret police now, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). What’s going on is horrible.
Perryman: How do you hope that Thursday’s event will impact local policy or public awareness?
Portala: I hope it’ll impact local awareness, letting people know that there are people out there standing up, and they could join the movement. Individually, we’re also working to get people elected. I’m working with Erin Kramer, who is a Toledo Persists member, and we’re trying to get her elected. One of our admins, Kristen Angelo, is running for council in Walbridge, Ohio. You know that’s a ruby-red area, so that would be awesome. We’re going to try to help her get elected. Our core is still trying to get people elected.
Perryman: What’s the next step after Thursday’s protest to commemorate John Lewis, and how can people become involved in the movement?
Portala: As for the protests, we will continue to participate in the National Calls for Action because it’s essential to keep these issues front and center. Protests have the power to inspire and give people hope, and hope is the most important thing when you’re working toward real change. They (protests) also have the potential to energize people, motivating them to get involved in other efforts, like supporting Democratic candidates who are committed to fighting for change and defending democracy. Beyond that, protests create space for connection. They bring together like-minded individuals who might discover causes that align with their own passions and talents, turning that initial spark into lasting engagement.
Perryman: How can people become an ally of Toledo Persists?
Portala: Toledo Persists does a variety of things. Our primary focus is on involvement in electoral politics. However, we also undertake various community projects. So, for example, we’re supporting a Syrian refugee family that we sponsored through the Federal Welcome Corps program, which, by the way, was shut down by the Trump administration after running for 30 years. If you’re interested, check out our public Facebook page, which is called Toledo Persists. We organize more privately, but people who are activists, or even just activist-minded, usually end up finding us.
Perryman: What do you need from local leaders or institutions to make this change sustainable?
Portala: Change takes all of us. It takes courage and empathy. It takes people talking to their own people – educating their “crazy uncles,” so to speak. It takes parents and grandparents showing up to school board meetings. It’s community gardening (literally and metaphorically) and sharing resources with neighbors and strangers.
Change also requires people to step up to run for office. And once in office, actually doing something to make change that people can use and feel. That means programs that don’t just work on paper, but that are easy for people to access. It is hard out here right now. People don’t have the time or patience to jump through dozens of hoops and reams of red tape.
There are a lot of things to be against right now, but we also must be for positive changes. For example, while we fight what seems to be a losing battle to save Medicaid, we must also advocate for expanding access to healthcare; just advocating for holding on by our fingernails to the little bits the billionaires have left for us is not enough. For long-term sustainability, start with the kids. Anytime we can educate and support kids, we make an impact that will be felt years down the road. We need elected leaders who can set their egos aside and make the choices that may be difficult in the short term, but are the right choice for long-term sustainability.
Perryman: What is the one message you would like Sojourner Truth readers to take from your action?
Portala: I continue to emphasize to readers that thousands of people in our city are showing up and fighting this fascist regime with everything they have. I want them to know that they are not alone. What is happening now is directly devastating to many of our sisters and brothers, and it is spreading. However, as long as we keep fighting, we will eventually win.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org