Dozens of community members gathered for an Independence Day protest Friday in downtown Lawrence, holding signs with messages including “Stand for democracy,” “Are we great yet?” “Resist” and “Save our Constitution.”
Others held signs with messages calling for “No concentration camps,” to “Honk in support of education, justice, science, equal rights,” and pushing for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The protest followed the Freedom Festival at Centennial Park, where hundreds gathered to celebrate the Constitution and the rights enshrined in its amendments.
Regular downtown protests continue at noon each Sunday at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.
Another upcoming rally, “Good Trouble Lives On,” will honor the late Congressman John Lewis on the anniversary of his death. That’s set for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at Watson Park, 727 Kentucky St.
“A core principle behind our Good Trouble Lives On actions is a commitment to nonviolence in all we do,” according to organizers. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
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August Rudisell (he/him) has been a photographer and videographer for The Lawrence Times since March 2021. He is a former dispatcher, he avidly consumes and creates local news, and he would love to meet your dog when out and about at a community event.
See more of his work for the Times here.
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