The protesters of Licking County
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, hundreds of people attended Licking County's “Good Trouble Lives On” protest honoring the memory of John Lewis, the late congressman and civil rights icon, at the Licking County Courthouse.
The rally — organized by Indivisible Central Ohio East, Licking County NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Licking County — was part of a nationwide day of peaceful protest. Attendees began at the Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newark before marchers made their way to the courthouse to hear speeches from faith and political leaders.
The Reporting Project asked people attending the rally questions about why they attended, and what “Good Trouble” means to them.
This is a feature of a continuing series depicting the lives of the people of Licking County.
Answers have been edited for clarity.
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Darlene Hemmingsen | Pataskala
“I went to my first protest when I was 12 years old. I am 69, so I’ve been doing this a while. I grew up on the East Coast and lived the civil rights movement in the ‘60s, so ‘Good Trouble’ does mean a lot. I feel like we’re taking too many steps backwards.”
Hemmingsen is the secretary of the Licking County Democrats.
Photo by Liv Barton
Photo by Liv Barton
Debby Esterline | Newark
“My daughters won't have the same rights as when they were born. I don't feel our voices are being heard in Congress, and I struggle with my voice in real life, so that makes it even more important to me.”
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Mary Henton | Newark
“I’ve been showing up at the various demonstrations for democracy because I think it’s important to make a stand, to be together to remind each other that we are not alone.”
As a Newark resident who attends events and demonstrations in Columbus and elsewhere in Ohio, Henton believes it's also important that Licking County residents show up, and show that they are not content with the current government.
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Photo by Maddie Luebkert
Denita Johnson | Newark
“I’m a member of the Trinity AME Church and we hosted the pre-rally. I came to support the church and, of course, because I am not in support of these unfair things that are going on today. (I’m) hoping that some of the changes that they are trying to make we can stop them.”
Photo by Tyler Thompson
Photo by Tyler Thompson
Jené Schoenfeld | Mount Vernon
Schoenfeld drove 45 minutes to attend the “Good Trouble” rally in Newark.
“I think John Lewis is an inspiration, and I want to honor his tradition and be with others who think that things are not as they should be. ‘Good Trouble’ means standing up for what democracy truly is and could be and protest the direction it’s going right now.”
Photo by Liv Barton
Photo by Liv Barton
David Gough | Newark
“We are losing our country and freedoms by the day, and people still support it. We can't sit by and watch our rights be taken away.”
Diane Watson | Photo by Doug Swift
Diane Watson | Photo by Doug Swift
Diane Watson | Newark
Diane Watson stood up from her lawn chair. She took a couple steps forward, bowed her head to hear better. She was listening to the Rev. Timothy Carpenter speak to a crowd at the Good Trouble rally at the Licking County Courthouse.
Carpenter said that even in the face of injustice, we must remain civil.
Watson knew what he was talking about. She’d lived it.
When she was a girl, her family visited an aunt in Detroit. The kids wanted to run out and play, but this was the time of harsh oppression, virulent dissent. The time of city riots. Her parents said, 'No, stay close.'
The same when they visited another aunt in Philadelphia. Even when they went to a football game in Lancaster, her father escorted her to the refreshment stand.
Her parents kept her from trouble. Bad trouble.
This felt like strict parenting to Watson, but what she’s grateful for about her parents is that “they educated us well as far as being a human being and respecting people.”
Her father worked for the Newark Air Force Station and he liked to bring co-workers home for dinner. The guests could be Chinese, Black and white. The family never knew who was coming. It was a living lesson in acceptance.
“I always believe that you treat people as you want to be treated. Everybody deserves respect. I don't care who it is or what they've done, they still deserve respect. And that's what my parents have instilled in me.”
It’s what she instilled in her son, now a husband, father and teacher at Newark High School.
It’s what Watson has given to her community. She worked at State Farm for 41 years. She works part time in the school cafeteria now to “keep busy.”
She’s been a pollworker for a long, long time. She’s served on the NAACP board, and aims to do so again. She sings in the choir of the Trinity African Methodist Episcopal church.
She lives her credo, “We all make mistakes. We all do things, say things, sometimes. But you still have to make an effort to try to do the right thing.”
After the speakers finished at the Good Trouble rally, Watson sat back down in her chair. She sang along to “We Shall Not Be Moved,” waved hello to a fellow poll worker, and caught up with an old friend.
She was the picture of civility.
Photo by Katie Nader
Photo by Katie Nader
Ken Apacki | Granville
“Good trouble to make justice is part of our heritage. It's part of our belief system, but it's not being implemented. Putting immigrants in camps, threatening them, intimidating them — it's cruel. It's immoral. That's why I'm here.”
Photo by Liv Barton
Photo by Liv Barton
Diana Wightman (left) and Linda Roll | Newark
“There is so much wrong, there isn't a sign big enough to fit it all. From human rights to voting rights, to constitutional rights, to our rights as a lesbian couple. So, we come out to fight for everyone's rights. They are coming to the schools. I am a retired teacher, and it hits too close to home,” Wightman said.
“I think the better question is, what is going right right now, and it is a short list. We're not going to stay silent, we're not going to roll over, and we're not going to let what happened to Germany happen in the United States of America. It has already started. Alligator Alcatraz is horrid. We have got to do something to help.”
“Health care, too, and I was a retired nurse, you see what happens to people because of the attacks. People are choosing whether to eat or pay their bills. When you talk about stripping people of Medicaid, you are stripping people's rights to seek medical attention and medical care,” Roll said.
Photo by Liv Barton
Photo by Liv Barton
Ben Jenkins | Newark
“Today is the anniversary of the death of John Lewis. He was a congressman and a civil rights leader, and it's important to recognize him while a lot of voting rights are in danger.”
“We are using a figure, as well as honoring his death, to bring people out against the current administration. Community sums it up, uniting against the administration right now that is causing a lot of harm brings us out here all together.”
Photo by Katie Nader
Photo by Katie Nader
Tom Rosser | Newark
Tom Rosser attended the rally “to protest what's going on in Washington, which I don't agree with, and to show that America stands for something better than what Washington is standing for right now. Show some spine, show some courage, some brass, and speak up, and connect with other people who feel the same way.”
Rosser brought a drum with him.
“It was made in Taos, New Mexico, by Native Americans, and they have fought for freedom, along with the rest of America. And so it's to symbolize inclusiveness, and the acceptance of everybody.”
Photo by Tyler Thompson
Photo by Tyler Thompson
Brittany Truss | Columbus
“It's great to see such a great turnout, and everybody come out to support each other and stand together for change within our community and our country.”
“I would like to see more people get involved. For the current people who are out protesting and just dedicating their time to keep it going — stay out there! We do need a change, so let's get out there and keep it going.”
Photo by Ellen Hansen
Photo by Ellen Hansen
Harrison Ponn | Newark
Every Saturday, Ponn attends protests at the Tesla dealership in Easton to voice his concerns about the Trump administration.
“I'm here to voice my support for our democracy and our constitution.”
Doug Swift, Liv Barton, Ellen Hansen, Katie Nader, Maddie Luebkert, Alan Miller, Tyler Thompson and Delaney Brown write for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.
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