Today, July 17, 2025, marks a historic day of action as tens of thousands of Americans across all 50 states take to the streets for the “Good Trouble Lives On” protests, commemorating the fifth anniversary of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis’s death.
The nationwide demonstrations, which have garnered over 56,000 RSVPs for more than 1,500 events, represent the latest in a series of organized protests against the Trump administration’s policies since the president returned to office in January 2025.
The Legacy of “Good Trouble”
The term “Good Trouble” was coined by Congressman John Lewis, who famously urged Americans to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Lewis, who served Georgia’s 5th Congressional District from 1987 until his death in 2020, was a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
His legacy includes leading more than 600 peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in March 1965, an event that became known as “Bloody Sunday” after state troopers violently attacked the marchers.
“Rosa Parks inspired us to get in trouble,” Lewis said in 2019. “And I’ve been getting in trouble ever since. She inspired us to find a way, to get in the way, to get in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Today’s Nationwide Movement
The Good Trouble Lives On protests are taking place in major cities across the country, with flagship events scheduled in:
- Washington, D.C.: Multiple events including an umbrella protest at Metro Center station at 9 AM, a rally in Woodley Park at 5 PM, and a march from Franklin Park to the former Black Lives Matter Plaza at 5:30 PM
- Chicago: Rally at Daley Plaza at 5:30 PM
- Los Angeles: Gathering at 200 N Spring St. from 4:30 PM to 8 PM
- Atlanta: Multiple events throughout the metro area including Downtown Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta, Alpharetta, Kennesaw, and Snellville
- New York: Events scheduled throughout the city
- Denver: Rally at 1449 Lincoln St. from 5 PM to 8 PM
Key Demands and Issues
According to organizers, the protests are responding to what they describe as “the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations.” The demonstrations are demanding:
- An end to the extreme crackdown on civil rights by the Trump administration
- Protection for voting rights and free and fair elections
- Cessation of attacks on Black and brown Americans, immigrants, trans people, and other communities
- Restoration of crucial social programs including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security
- Defense against voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act
- Protection of free speech and the right to protest
Christine Wood and Allison Pulliam, co-directors of the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition, stated: “For the past five years, we have fought to protect our civil liberties that generations of marginalized Americans have worked tirelessly to secure.”
Building on Momentum
The Good Trouble Lives On protests represent the continuation of a sustained resistance movement that has gained momentum throughout 2025. Previous demonstrations include:
- Tesla Takedown in March
- Hands Off! and 50501 protests in April
- May Day demonstrations
- No Kings protests on June 14, which attracted an estimated 4-6 million participants
- Free America events on Independence Day
The June 14 “No Kings” protests, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and a military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary, saw millions take to the streets across hundreds of U.S. cities.
Organizational Coalition
The protests are supported by a broad coalition of civil rights and democracy organizations, including:
- Transformative Justice Coalition
- Black Voters Matter
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- League of Women Voters
- Public Citizen
- Declaration for American Democracy Coalition
- National Urban League
- American Constitution Society
- Indivisible
- 50501 Movement
- Third Act
- Mi Familia En Acción
Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-director of Indivisible, noted: “There’s extraordinary damage being sustained across every front that we care about, and because of that, I think the way in which people are processing individual outrages or specific moments has shifted a little bit.”
Training for Action
In preparation for the protests, Indivisible launched “One Million Rising,” a national project aimed at training a million people in the basics of non-cooperation, community organizing, and campaign design. The organization has been holding teach-ins and movement calls to prepare participants for effective peaceful protest.
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who published a book on U.S. protest history this year, observed: “The idea of protest as an effective tool regained its footing. It took the imagination again of young people and others to say this is the way.”
Format and Activities
Unlike previous weekend protests, today’s events are taking place on a weekday and include a diverse range of activities:
- Traditional marches and rallies
- Vigils commemorating John Lewis
- Panel discussions on civil rights
- Community barbecues and gatherings
- Virtual events for those unable to attend in person
- Voter registration drives
Organizers emphasize that all events maintain a commitment to nonviolence, following in the tradition established by Lewis and other civil rights leaders.
Government Response
The Trump administration has yet to issue an official response to today’s protests. However, administration officials have previously stated that “nearly 80 million Americans gave President Trump a historic mandate to Make America Great Again and he is delivering on that promise.”
The protests come amid what organizers describe as increasing restrictions on civil liberties, including the recent signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on July 4, which features cuts to social services and healthcare while increasing funding for deportation efforts.
Looking Forward
As protesters gather across the nation today, organizers view this as more than a single day of action. “This is more than a protest; it’s a moral reckoning,” according to event materials. “A continuation of the movement Lewis helped lead, and a new front in the struggle for freedom.”
The Good Trouble Lives On website declares: “We are not spectators to history. We are the makers of it. Together, we can push back against the Trump administration and fight for a democracy that works for us. With People. With Power. With Good Trouble.”
For those interested in participating or learning more about events in their area, information is available at goodtroubleliveson.org.
As the sun sets on this historic day of action, the legacy of John Lewis continues to inspire a new generation of activists committed to making “good trouble” in the pursuit of justice, equality, and democracy.
