Kansas Citians to get into ‘good trouble’ Thursday celebrating Rep. John Lewis at Swope Park
Kansas Citians are looking to get into “good trouble” Thursday at Swope Park on the fifth anniversary of the death of former U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
“I want to call it a celebration,” Jenise Comer, a host for the event, told The Kansas City Star.
The event will be held at the bandstand at Swope Park, 4177 Pavilion Road, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., according to an Instagram post from Indivisible Kansas City.
The nonviolent, nonpartisan event is aimed at honoring Lewis’ contributions to democracy, Comer said. It’s part of a national day of action to “carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all,” according to the “Good Trouble Lives On” website.
“This man gave his entire life to make our country free and accessible to everybody,” Comer said.
Lewis, who died on July 17, 2020, was considered one of the “big six” leaders of the civil rights movement.
“When [Lewis] started his work, African Americans could only go to Swope Park and congregate on Watermelon Hill, and so now we’re celebrating our ability to be at the bandstand as we honor his life and commemorate how he did things,” Comer said.
Kansas City, “Watermelon Hill” referred to a specific area within Swope Park, designated as a segregated space for African American residents during a time of racial segregation. Specifically, it was associated with Shelter #5 in the park, which was the only shelter available for African American families and gatherings. The name “Watermelon Hill” was informally used by the Black community and is linked to the practice of bringing watermelons to picnics and gatherings at the shelter.
Comer stressed that the Swope Park gathering is family friendly and aimed at celebrating and promoting Lewis’ “non-violent approach to democracy and to the belief that power belongs to the people. And that we come in peace, and we come in power.”
The event will focus on “issues and the need for democracy for all, rather than any person, any one body,” Comer said.
The gathering is being sponsored by organizations including the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition and Indivisible Kansas City.
Participants will include Mayor Quinton Lucas, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Phi Beta Sigma, the League of Women Voters and others, Comer said.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
