The people are rising up against the dictatorial style of President Donald Trump’s administration that has been targeting and harassing immigrants and the poor.
Protests and events against Trump’s controversial policies that include mass deportations and cuts to Medicaid and other safety nets for poor people have started Thursday at more than 1,600 locations around the country.
“We are navigating one of the most terrifying moments in our nation’s history,” Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert said during an online news conference Tuesday. “We are all grappling with a rise of authoritarianism and lawlessness within our administration … as the rights, freedoms and expectations of our very democracy are being challenged.”
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According to PBS, Public Citizen is a nonprofit with a stated mission of taking on corporate power. It is a member of a coalition of groups behind Thursday’s protests.
These protests come on the heels of the U.S. Senate approving Trump’s $9 billion in spending cuts, marking a major fiscal and political victory. The package, narrowly passed 51–48, slashed around $8 billion from foreign aid programs and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS. Despite internal GOP dissent, including from Senators Collins and Murkowski, the cuts moved forward after a small exemption was made to preserve $400 million for PEPFAR, a global HIV/AIDS relief effort. Critics argue the cuts weaken U.S. global leadership and public access to emergency communications, especially in rural areas.
The “Good Trouble Lives On” national day of action honors the late congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis. Protests were being held along streets, at court houses and other public spaces. Organizers have called for them to be peaceful.
John Lewis was a lifelong advocate for justice, equality, and civil rights. Born in 1940 to sharecroppers in rural Alabama, Lewis became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He was the youngest speaker at the historic 1963 March on Washington and served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), leading efforts like the Freedom Rides and the Selma–Montgomery marches. On “Bloody Sunday” in 1965, Lewis was brutally beaten by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, an event that helped galvanize support for the Voting Rights Act. His fearless activism embodied his mantra of making “good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Elected to Congress in 1986, Lewis served Georgia’s 5th District for over 30 years. He fought tirelessly for voting rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and healthcare. His graphic novel trilogy March brought his story to new generations, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, Lewis remained active in public life. After his death in 2020, his legacy inspired national tributes and annual marches. His life remains a blueprint for moral leadership, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice.
The current wave of protests reflects a deep and growing concern over the erosion of democratic values, social protections, and civil rights in the United States. As citizens rally against harsh immigration policies, sweeping budget cuts, and perceived authoritarianism, they draw strength from the legacy of leaders like John Lewis, whose life was defined by courage, justice, and “good trouble.” This moment underscores a collective demand for accountability, equity, and compassion in governance. It serves as a reminder that civic engagement remains a powerful tool for change, especially when guided by the enduring principles of democracy and human dignity.