Protesters across all 50 states took to the streets on Thursday as part of the ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ movement, a sweeping day of action honoring the legacy of civil rights icon John Lewis and opposing the Trump administration’s policies.
In New York City, demonstrators staged a sit-in at Federal Plaza, blocking traffic near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. Videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) show protestors chanting and holding signs as they occupied the intersection in front of the Manhattan facility.
Nationwide Protests Target Immigration and Trump Policies
The protests, which spanned over 1,600 locations across the U.S., voiced outrage over President Trump’s recent immigration crackdowns, proposed health care cuts, and broader concerns about democratic backsliding under his administration.
Large demonstrations erupted in major cities including Atlanta, Georgia; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; and Annapolis, Maryland.
The Meaning Behind ‘Good Trouble’
The Good Trouble movement takes its name from a famous phrase by late Congressman John Lewis, who urged Americans to get into “good trouble, necessary trouble” to defend democracy and civil rights. Lewis, the youngest member of the historic “Big Six” civil rights leaders alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died in 2020.
“We are navigating one of the most terrifying moments in our nation’s history,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the progressive group Public Citizen, ahead of the protests. “Authoritarianism is rising, and the rights and freedoms at the heart of our democracy are under threat.”
Rising Tensions and Federal Response
The latest wave of demonstrations comes just weeks after violent clashes in Los Angeles, where protests against immigration raids escalated into riots. In response, the Trump administration deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the area in June. Those forces were withdrawn earlier this week.
Following the LA unrest, a massive protest dubbed the “No Kings” march saw millions rallying nationwide in June, from New York to San Francisco, united against what organizers called Trump’s “monarchical overreach.”
As tensions continue to mount, activists promise the Good Trouble movement will persist through the election season, with more mass actions planned in the coming weeks.
