Good Trouble Lives On

[Joseph]

July 17th, 2025 saw another round of protests against the Trump Administration. It was called by a liberal coalition, and took place on the fifth anniversary of the death of John Lewis, a Democratic Party politician who had been a major civil rights activist in the turbulent civil rights movement of the 1960s. The organizers called it "Good Trouble Lives On" day, basing this on a quote from Lewis, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Called for a Thursday, and with more groups in the coalition than preparation, it was smaller than No Kings Day, but still took place in cities across the country.

From Seattle, Frank reports:

Hundreds of people turned out for the Seattle rally, and I think about 1,000 then marched north on Broadway. They were mainly white or Asian, but there were a few Latinos who happily took leaflets. Lots of homemade anti-ICE signs. Most of the left groups were there, but I didn't see Socialist Alternative or the Freedom Socialist Party. Someone (or some group) gave away expensive black sweatshirts with “Fuck the Nazis” written in white on them, and quite a few people wore one.

Eric and I gave out about 275 leaflets, and I had some good conversations and experiences: for a very long time, EVERY African American who walked by the rally took a leaflet (Seattle Workers’ Voice, vol. 9, #2); a young lawyer telling me that she was going to send the leaflet to the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project; 6-8 Latino restaurant workers coming outside to see the march get a leaflet; a couple who hadn't heard about what happened at MacArthur Park denouncing ICE as the Gestapo as our discussion developed.

I also attended the 7:00 demonstration at Westlake that J informed us of. It turned out to be a Palestine solidarity event, with 10-15 people who I didn't recognize present. I gave out about a dozen leaflets and, being tired, left.

In Detroit, Pete reports:

Detroit demo on "Make Good Trouble Day", July 17, 2025: There were a few small demos planned for the Detroit area. I went to the one at the corner of Coolidge Ave. and I-696 in Oak Park. This is a very busy intersection. Demonstrators lined up on both sides of the service drive and entrance ramp to I-696. Many cars honked in support, and it was very noisy in the middle of afternoon rush hour.

At its height, the demo numbered 100 people. When I first arrived, there were about half that number, and I was probably the youngest (!). Later, some youngsters -- in their 40s and 50s -- arrived. About the only ones younger than that were a bunch of petitioners getting signatures for ranked-choice voting to go on the ballot.

There were no speeches or collective rallying, just people holding their homemade signs, waving and yelling. Distribution was difficult, since most people were busy and had their hands full. I did distribute a few copies of the latest Detroit/Seattle Workers Voice list article (on MacArthur Park) and talked with a few people, who expressed pleasure at getting the leaflet. The most interesting discussion was with an older woman whose son is the principal at a school in Dearborn. She said ICE has been at the school, invading, poking around, harassing students, even asking her son, "Where were you born?"

There were no leftists there. There were a bunch of American flags present, but also a bunch of signs denouncing Trump as a fascist or nazi. A number of signs denounced ICE, and -- something new -- there were a few signs about the Epstein scandal. No mention of Palestine. People I talked with raised concern about cutbacks to education and weather service in Trump's Big Beautiful budget bill.

[Frank]

First paragraph:

“It was called for a liberal coalition” should be “It was called BY a liberal coalition”

“The organized called it...” Do you mean “The ORGANIZERS called it...”?

[Frank]

Oh, and “Socialist Action” should be “Socialist Alternative”

[pete]

Typo: 2925 should be 2025

[Joseph]

Frank and Pete, thanks very much for the corrections!