The Rev. Hutchins takes on Rep. Lewis
February 22, 2008 at 5:16 pm by Andisheh Nouraee in News
THE REV. MARKEL HUTCHINS TAKES ON REP. JOHN LEWIS: “The winds of change are blowing. Dress in layers.â€
(photo by Joeff Davis)
Accompanied by a smooth-jazz rendition of “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,†the Rev. Markel Hutchins strode up to the small crowd assembled outside the Russell Federal Building downtown Wednesday to announce he’s running for Congress.
The 30-year-old minister and activist, best known as the spokesman for the family of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston after she was gunned down by Atlanta police, is taking on 11-term Rep. John Lewis in the Democratic primary. Hutchins called Lewis the candidate of “yesteryears†– a great icon, but a lousy advocate for the 5th District in D.C.
The odds against Hutchins are steep. So steep, in fact, that during his speech he said, “I’m not crazy.†“The winds of change†are blowing, he insisted. I don’t know if they were winds of change or not, but the wind was blowing so hard during his announcement that I left during the Q&A with reporters. I was cold.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 am
The fact is, the “winds of change” will blow right past Georgia if our elected officials don’t retire their old ways of thinking and get with the program. We have the opportunity to sweep in CHANGE in BROADSTROKES instead simply drawing Etch-a-Sketch likw lines across the canvass of progress!
How do you change an environment and a mode of operating when you’re entrenched in it? How does Congressman Lewis? Old-school politics is institutionalized in Washington. How does one make a radical shift to get things done when they’ve been a part of that very institution for two decades? Logically, how is that even possible? We are nothing as human beings if not creatures of habit.
I applaud Markel and wish him God’s speed to victory. Not to “unseat”, the good, great Congressman Lewis — simply to help him sit down in another chair! Its time to pass the torch. But as all of us that follow civil rights era folks know — the torch is never passed. Rather than force the torch from their grasp – Markel Hutchins seems to want to create a new one.
I say — go ahead ! Many are sick & tired of the same ol’ that gives the same ol’ results so I know that I am not alone!
Faith, Hope & Love!