Hampton Community Rallies for Democracy in National “Good Trouble Lives On” Day of Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 17, 2025

Hampton, VA — Today, union members, civil rights advocates, and community leaders gathered for a powerful action honoring the legacy of Rep. John Lewis and demanding protection for voting rights and civil liberties. The event, led by AFGE Local 2328 President Stacy Shorter, was one of hundreds nationwide marking the anniversary of Lewis’s passing with nonviolent demonstrations calling on Congress to defend American democracy.

Participants included representatives from the Hampton NAACP, United Steelworkers Local 8888, Peninsula Indivisible, independent activists, and unpaid community organizers. Virgil Thornton, Democratic candidate for the 86th District in the Virginia House of Delegates, joined in solidarity.

Speakers condemned the Trump administration’s authoritarian attacks on voting access, civil rights, and protest freedoms. The gathering called for passage of key federal legislation, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and the Washington D.C. Admission Act.

“This is what solidarity looks like,” said President Shorter. “We are here to say that Good Trouble lives on — in Hampton and across this country — and we won’t be silenced.”

The event was part of the national Good Trouble Lives On campaign, which mobilized Americans in every state to resist the rollback of civil rights and to remind lawmakers that in America, power belongs to the people.

For photos, interviews, or more information, contact:

AFGE Local 2328

📧 [email protected]