Good Trouble: The Latest Anti-Trump Protest Is on July 17. Here's Why.
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National anti-Trump demonstrations will take place across the United States on July 17 under the moniker "Good Trouble Lives On," honoring the late civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, and continuing a spate of national demonstrations that have been well-attended by Trump detractors in nearly every pocket of the country.
Why It Matters
"We hope to build off the incredible momentum anti-authoritarian protests including No Kings Day, Hands Off and May Day and bring in communities already engaged in organizing into the fold of Good Trouble Lives On," group spokesperson Katie Garcia told Newsweek on Wednesday.
Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action has been an annual event for the past five years in memoriam of Lewis, and was already scheduled for July 17—the day of his death.
Other protests like "No Kings" have been successful. That took place in countless cities on June 14, as part of a rebuke of Trump on his 79th birthday, which also saw the president attend a military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. An estimated 4 to 6 million people made their voices heard.
In April, Hands Off! protests also galvanized opponents of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk during the throes of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) work in the federal government. The group described itself as a pro-democracy, pro-worker movement taking place "in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities."
Good Trouble Lives On is described as "a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration."
Good Trouble Lives On is described as "a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration."
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/AP
Who is Organizing the 'Good Trouble' Protests?
Good Trouble Lives On is led by Transformative Justice Coalition, Black Voters Matter, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, League of Women Voters, Public Citizens, the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition, National Urban League, American Constitution Society, Indivisible, 50501, Third Act, Mi Familia En Acción and many more organizations.
Who was John Lewis?
Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and advocate of peaceful protests, who famously called for "good trouble" during the civil rights era.
He rose to political infamy even before stepping into office. In March 1965, he led more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, as a public outcry for voting rights ultimately transformed into violence between protesters and police, now known as "Bloody Sunday."
Lewis was elected to the U.S. House in 1986, representing constituents largely based in Atlanta. The 2017 Trump inauguration was the first that Lewis ever skipped. Lewis died in 2020.
Protest locations across the U.S.
As of the early afternoon of July 16, event organizers told Newsweek that they had confirmed more than 1,600 events and 162,000 RSVPs, adding that they "expect at least several hundred thousand people will attend across the country with a few international events also confirmed."
A map on the organization's website shows events planned nationwide in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Locations include major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Dallas, Austin, Columbus and Charlotte. Palm Beach, Florida, the home city of Trump family's home, will also host events.
Bigger Turnout Than Ever
Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman told Newsweek on Wednesday that although this event has drawn interest in past years, he and organizers felt this year would be different.
"We're thrilled," Wiessman said. "It's vastly greater than what we had anticipated. We actually shut off the registration a few days ago. ... This is a very different kind of thing than we've done in the past. We've done it in partnership with the Transformative Justice Coalition. And in the past it's been 75 relatively small events around the country.
"We obviously knew this one is going to be bigger, but at this point 1,600 is vastly more than we had anticipated."
This event differs from other aforementioned protests in terms of format and scheduling. Thursday's events will include protests, marches and vigils, in addition to panel discussions and even some barbecues.
It's also unique in that it's taking place on a weekday, rather than weekends where millions came out for other protests within the past few months.
Weissman said Lewis' "courage, commitment and persistence" acts as a backdrop for this particular day, acknowledging how the former congressman endured physical threats and life-altering challenges.
"[Lewis] literally marched ahead and inspired others with his words, and even more with his example to be courageous," he said. "We saw his commitment to push and demand what was right...understanding that victories aren't permanent, but that fighting for justice is permanent and lifelong."
What People Are Saying
Speaking to Newsweek, Lorella Praeli, co-president of Community Change Action, which has backed anti-Trump demonstrations, said: "Look around—Trump and his allies are deploying the tools of authoritarianism: silencing dissent, targeting immigrants, punishing oversight, and even staging military displays for personal glorification. These aren't isolated incidents; they're part of a broader effort to delegitimize democratic norms."
In a statement sent to Newsweek Declaration for American Democracy, a campaign group backing the protest, said: "This isn't the government our founders envisioned, nor the democracy generations of Americans have fought to realize. As the Trump administration continues violating civil liberties and attacking fundamental freedoms, pro-democracy groups are staying vigilant. The power lies with the American people to unify and 'Make Good Trouble.'"
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen what organizers plan next in terms of protests and anti-Trump sentiment.
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