Mass Demonstrations Challenge Trump's Administrative Decisions Nationwide
On Thursday, July 17, 2025, over 1,600 protests and demonstrations took place nationwide, as part of the "Good Trouble Lives On" national day of action. Organised by a coalition of groups including the nonprofit Public Citizen, these events were held to honour the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis and to oppose the Trump Administration's civil rights rollbacks.
The protests responded to what organisers described as "the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations." Major issues highlighted included attacks on voting rights, federal budget cuts affecting essential services, mass deportations, threats to free speech and the right to protest, and environmental degradation.
The phrase "Good Trouble," coined by John Lewis, encourages peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience to challenge injustice and promote meaningful change. Lewis was a civil rights icon known for his leadership in the 1960s and his long Congressional career opposing Donald Trump.
The event in Chicago was billed as the flagship protest, with demonstrators rallying downtown and holding a candlelight vigil for Lewis. In Los Angeles, protests were sparked by the administration's use of the National Guard to protect immigration agents, leading to significant street protests on June 8. Tensions flared during mass arrests at two Southern California marijuana farms earlier this month, resulting in the death of one farmworker.
The protests in Los Angeles were part of the ongoing demonstrations against President Donald Trump's second-term policies. Major demonstrations were also expected in Atlanta, St. Louis, Oakland, and Annapolis. The rally in Chicago is set to feature a lively atmosphere with a DJ, while the protests in Los Angeles were marked by a more sombre tone.
Organisers have called for the protests to remain peaceful, emphasising bills like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and the Native American Voting Rights Act, all aimed at protecting and expanding voting rights across the U.S. The event marks the fifth anniversary of John Lewis's death on July 17, 2020, symbolising a continuation of his legacy of civil rights activism.
These concerted actions illustrate ongoing widespread resistance to Trump-era policies perceived as harmful to civil liberties, democracy, and human rights, asserting that "power lies with the people."
- The protests nationwide, in response to the Trump Administration's civil rights rollbacks, also highlighted concerns about health, as organizers expressed worry over potential threats to general public health due to lack of funding for essential services and environmental degradation.
- In the wake of these ongoing protests, the current administration's foreign policy and war-and-conflict actions are increasingly being scrutinized by the public and politicians, with many questioning their impact on democracy and human rights both domestically and internationally.
