Tens of thousands of people are expected to rally and march on Thursday at over 1,500 locations across all 50 U.S. states in a coordinated protest against the Trump administration and to honor the late Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon and staunch advocate for voting rights.
The nationwide mobilization, called “Good Trouble Lives On,” marks the fifth anniversary of Lewis’s death. A longtime Georgia congressman, Lewis famously joined the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march and was brutally beaten by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in what became a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights.
Lewis often urged Americans to make “good trouble, necessary trouble” in the pursuit of justice — a mantra that forms the foundation of Thursday’s demonstrations. Dozens of civil rights and advocacy groups have signed on as partners for the day of action.
“The civil rights leaders of the past have shown us the power of collective action,” the event’s website states. “On July 17, five years after the passing of Congressman John Lewis, communities will rise up to continue his fight for justice, voting rights, and human dignity.”
Organizers anticipate mass participation in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike. The protests follow June’s “No Kings” mobilization, which drew millions and became one of the largest single-day protest efforts in U.S. history. While turnout may be smaller this time due to the weekday scheduling, organizers say the reach will still be substantial.
Chicago is set to host the main event, with key gatherings also planned in Atlanta, St. Louis, Annapolis, and Oakland. The day’s actions will include marches, candlelight vigils, food drives, direct action workshops, teach-ins, and voter registration efforts.
Protesters are demanding an end to what they describe as civil rights rollbacks under the Trump administration — including restrictions on voting and protesting — and denouncing targeted attacks on marginalized groups such as Black and brown Americans, immigrants, and transgender individuals. They are also calling for the preservation of critical social programs like Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), which have faced cuts.
“John Lewis always reminded us that if you see something wrong, you have a responsibility to speak out and act,” said Daryl Jones, co-leader of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “That’s what July 17 is about — calling out injustice wherever we see it and standing up for what’s right.”
