Nationwide U.S. Protests Honor John Lewis, Oppose Trump, Demand Justice

On Thursday, tens of thousands of people across all 50 U.S. states are taking to the streets in coordinated demonstrations to honor the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis and protest against the policies of the Trump administration.

These marches and rallies, held at over 1,500 locations, are part of the “Good Trouble Lives On” day of action, a movement rooted in Lewis’s enduring call for civil disobedience in the face of injustice.

The protests mark the fifth anniversary of Lewis’s passing.

A towering figure in the civil rights movement, Lewis was a long-serving representative from Georgia and one of the youngest leaders to speak at the historic 1963 March on Washington.

He was also famously attacked by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, during the 1965 march for voting rights, a moment that became a turning point in American history.

Lewis’s belief in “good trouble, necessary trouble” continues to inspire activists today.

This guiding principle lies at the heart of the July 17 demonstrations, which are backed by a wide coalition of civil rights and advocacy organizations.

Their collective message: justice, dignity, and voting rights must be protected and expanded.

“The civil rights leaders of the past have shown us the power of collective action,” states the protest’s official website.

“That’s why on July 17, five years since the passing of Congressman John Lewis, communities across the country will take to the streets, courthouses, and community spaces to carry forward his fight.”

Though organizers anticipated smaller turnouts compared to recent weekend demonstrations, they still expected tens of thousands to show up in cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

The last major nationwide protest, the “No Kings” mobilization in June, drew millions and became one of the largest days of protest in U.S. history.

While Thursday’s turnout may be lower due to it falling on a weekday, its symbolic weight is significant.

The flagship event is being held Thursday evening in Chicago, with other major gatherings planned in cities including Atlanta, St. Louis, Oakland, and Annapolis.

Events range from traditional marches and rallies to candlelight vigils, food drives, voter registration efforts, teach-ins, and training sessions on direct action.

Protesters are rallying around a clear set of demands.

These include an end to what they describe as the Trump administration’s erosion of civil rights, suppression of protest, and attacks on marginalized communities.

Specific concerns cited include policies targeting Black and brown Americans, immigrants, and transgender people.

The policies also target proposed cuts to critical social safety nets such as Medicaid and SNAP (commonly referred to as food stamps).

Daryl Jones, co-leader of the Transformative Justice Coalition, emphasized the moral imperative behind the protests.

“One of the things that John Lewis would always say is that if you see something that’s wrong, you have an obligation to speak up, to say something, to do something,” he told reporters.

“That’s what July 17 is about—seeing injustice in this nation and standing up against it.”

While these nationwide protests serve as a pointed response to the current political climate, they are also a tribute to Lewis’s lifelong dedication to activism.

By encouraging Americans to engage in nonviolent resistance and civic participation, organizers hope to channel Lewis’s spirit to push for meaningful social change.

The “Good Trouble Lives On” campaign reminds the nation that the fight for civil rights is ongoing, and that the legacy of leaders like John Lewis lives not just in history books, but in the actions of those who continue to march for justice today.

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