On July 17, 2025, the United States is bracing for a new wave of large-scale protests under the slogan “Good Trouble Lives On.” The event is expected to span over 280 to 400 cities across the country from Washington, D.C. to Houston, and from northern states like Vermont to the West Coast in California and Oregon. This widespread movement is far more than a fleeting demonstration; it serves as a symbolic and practical continuation of the legacy of one of America’s most prominent civil rights figures: John Lewis.
The protests are being organized through a collaboration between the “No Kings” movement and “Indivisible,” coinciding with the fifth anniversary of John Lewis’s passing. Lewis famously called for making “good trouble” the kind of peaceful confrontation necessary for creating meaningful social change. This anniversary is being marked as a collective moment of remembrance, especially significant amid former President Donald Trump’s return to power and a series of controversial policies affecting immigration, civil rights, and freedom of expression.
The central message of this movement is that democracy cannot be preserved through silence or passivity, but rather through ongoing collective action. Protesters aim to reinforce the idea that the freedoms fought for by people like John Lewis are not guaranteed they require every generation to actively defend them, particularly in times of political crisis and rising authoritarianism.
These demonstrations are expected to be peaceful and highly organized, drawing a diverse crowd of participants from various backgrounds and age groups. In addition to the protests, side events such as public speeches, artistic performances, and community gatherings will be held to raise political awareness and strengthen connections between different rights-based movements.
Amid growing tensions surrounding the new administration's policies, this initiative represents a pivotal moment to re-emphasize the importance of civic participation not just as a right, but as a national duty. The upcoming July 17 protests are not simply a memorial they are a direct response to democratic backsliding and a clear message that says: “John Lewis’s legacy lives on, and good trouble is far from over.”
