Thousands rally against Trump administration policies in ‘good trouble’ protests across US
Thousands of people have come together as part of the “good trouble” protests across the US. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Thousands of people have come together as part of the "good trouble" protests across the US. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Thousands of people have rallied against the Trump administration in “good trouble” protests across the US.
On Thursday (17 July), hundreds of “good trouble” protests arose in various cities across the country, coming together under a shared message inspired by late congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis.
Thousands of people protested in the streets on what organisers urged as a national day of action in response to the Trump administration’s recent policies, including cuts to public school funding and a “life-saving” LGBTQ+ suicide hotline, as well as attempting to reverse protections for immigrants and historically marginalised communities.
Protesters in New York City marched around a federal building in downtown Manhattan, demanding “no detentions, no deportations” and holding images of those killed by police or displaced in immigration raids.
Over 2,700 miles away in Los Angeles, demonstrators marched for those impacted by the ICE raids. In Atlanta, Georgia, people marched towards a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial.
The demonstrations were organised to mark the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death, and took place in over 1,500 sites across all 50 states. It follows the “No Kings” anti-Trump protests last month, which also garnered millions of protesters.
As proven by the multitude of protests in Lewis’ honour, his infamous quote lives on: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”
Los Angeles protest organiser Arianna Walker said via a statement: “We are here to honour the past, confront the present and demand a future where our voices are not just heard, but obeyed.
“This is about community, about showing up for one another, standing shoulder to shoulder, and refusing to let love, dignity, hope, or joy be silenced.”
The protest comes at a trying time for US citizens. Around half of Americans have said in an Associated Press-NORC poll that Trump’s policies in his second term have done more to hurt them than to help them.
Of those surveyed, 49 per cent of adults said Trump’s policies have harmed them, while 27 per cent said Trump’s policies had helped them, and 22 per cent said his policies had not made a difference to them.
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