(PHOTOS) Candlelight vigil honors memory of the late Rep. John Lewis
Lithonia resident Brianna Levels, 19, attends a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
By Dean Hesse, contributor
Greater Decatur, GA — On Saturday, July 17, around 50 people gathered outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur for a candlelight vigil for democracy and to honor the life and legacy of the late John Lewis on the one-year anniversary of his death.
The “Good Trouble Vigil” was one of 158 held in 42 states across the country, according to DeKalb County Democratic Committee Third Vice Chair Gloria Moore.
“We were asked by Citizen.org along with several other national organizations to host a candlelight vigil in tribute to John Lewis on the anniversary of his death,” said Moore. “A good bit of DeKalb County is in the 5th District, so John Lewis was ours and we were quite anxious to honor him. Besides this anniversary is the fact that in Georgia in particular, we have some voter suppression laws that have been passed that are outrageous. And of course, all over the country there are the same kinds of (voter) suppression laws being passed. So, it’s really important that we get people to focus on the fact that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act is an expansion of the original Voting Rights Act that he fought so hard for. We have to make that happen. Also, we have the For the People Act that will take the voting rights even further which we need in this country.”
DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson, who spoke at the vigil told Decaturish, “This is a celebration of John Lewis, a freedom fighter, a person who was for the people, of the people and by the people and this is just a reminder that we have to continue to do good trouble.”
DeKalb County Democratic Committee Third Vice Chair Gloria Moore holds one of the signs given to participants during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Educator, activist and poet Tarece Johnson waits to speak during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Royce Mann, a candidate for the Atlanta School Board and member of March for Our Lives, a youth driven organization fighting for sensible gun violence prevention policies, speaks to the crowd during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
People hold signs during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson speaks to the crowd during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Tucker resident Jessica Prince holds a handmade sign during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Retired teacher Laura Nieto of Decatur shows a 2019 photo of herself and Rep. John Lewis during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late congressman on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
DeKalb County Democratic Committee Second Vice Chair and Get Out the Vote Committee Chair Karen Davenport holds a brochure with a quote from John Lewis during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late congressman on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Student activist and poet Hannah Hassell speaks to the crowd during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Around 50 people attended a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
People stand in a circle as they listen to speakers during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Around 50 people attended a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Lithonia resident Sandra Samuels attends a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside of the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Tessa Shlaer and Sarah, both from Lawrenceville, attend a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Around 50 people attended a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Former Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chair John Eaves, who recently announced a bid for Georgia Secretary of State, attends a vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Around 50 people attended a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Around 50 people attended a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
Speaker Nurah Abdulhaqq (second from right) from March for Our Lives, a youth driven organization fighting for sensible gun violence prevention policies, holds an LED candle during a candlelight vigil for democracy held outside the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in greater Decatur on July 17 honoring the life and legacy of the late Rep. john Lewis on the anniversary of his death. Photo by Dean Hesse.
If you appreciate our work on this story, please become a paying supporter. For as little as $3 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about your community. To become a supporter, click here.
Want Decaturish delivered to your inbox every day? Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here.