Running With 'Good Trouble': A Nationwide Movement for Change in America

Upon the passing of U.S. Representative John Lewis on July 17, 2020, his family, alongside civil rights activists, chose to commemorate him not with traditional memorials, but through rallies and marches—embracing the “good trouble” he championed in pursuit of justice. Five years later, on the same date, the campaign “Good Trouble Lives On” initiated protest events across over 1,700 communities nationwide. Leaders rally to challenge the policies of President Trump’s administration, aiming to restore vital public policies they believe to have been dismantled. Barbara Arnwine, president of the Transformative Justice Coalition, noted, “We had more than 1,700 events, and it was beautiful.” Major demonstrations occurred in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, along with smaller towns such as Deland and Annapolis. Arnwine articulated the essence of these gatherings: diversity, positivity, and communal resolve, encapsulating the vital message of ongoing activism in Lewis’s honor.