The older you will get...: I Got Paid Musicians Union Scale Plus That Antifa Bonus...

I tried to look up on the internet if Congressman John Lewis ever did anything bad. Like all of us he was a fallible human mortal but apparently he was not a convicted felon, never sexually assaulted anyone, never defrauded anyone and never incited a riot to take over the government. John Lewis was a champion of non-violently protesting to represent the downtrodden and oppressed that American society that the billionaires buying influence want to leave behind. For this he was often beaten and arrested but believed in "making good trouble" and that "if you see something that is not right, not fair, not just you have to speak up."

Speak up is what people did at the July 17th, 2025 Good Trouble Lives on Rally, held at around 2000 places across America. Here in Lufkin, Tx we gathered on the steps of the Ward R. Burk Federal Building and for a couple of hours a group of local people consisting of some of my oldest friends, friends from church and other concerned citizens with common interests in the welfare of all met and displayed signs to express our dissatisfaction with Trump and his policies that is taking away healthcare, education, environmental protections and endangering human rights in America, a place that used to champion these very principles.

We talked and laughed, listened to Bob Marley tunes, I played the tuba with my grand kids accompanying on percussion while Charlie and Jovina sang and we all moved off the grass and federal building steps when the U.S. Marshalls asked.

This was the second local rally I had participated in. Last month we had the No Kings Rally at the county courthouse. I also played tuba there but in an effort not to wear out my welcome we plan on working up some guitar tunes for the next time. Several people around us allowed how they played or sang and it might be a good start for group.

Nothing says protest like climbing the no parking sign poles in front of the fed.