On Thursday, July 17, people will gather across the nation at more than 1,600 events for the fifth annual Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action. The events will protest actions by the Trump administration while celebrating the legacy of John Lewis, a hero of the Civil Rights Movement who went on to serve in Congress for 33 years, where he remained an outspoken advocate for justice and equality. Lewis, who died on July 17, 2020, inspired generations with his resolve and his approach to nonviolent protest, which he called “getting into good trouble.”
“In memory of John Lewis, we will take to the streets, courthouses and community spaces to carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights and dignity for all,” national organizers said on the day of action’s site.
The number of events and people who registered to attend this year far exceeds any previous year, organizers said. The reason is obvious: “We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in a generation.”
This year, protests will call for an end to “the Trump administration’s extreme crackdown on our civil rights,” for politicians to stop “targeting Black and Brown Americans, immigrants, trans people and others with hateful, dangerous policies,” and for a reversal of the drastic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP included in the budget reconciliation bill President Trump signed into law on July 4.
All the events on Thursday, except for the main rally in Chicago, are being organized at the local level by volunteers. In Iowa, there are events scheduled in more than cities around the state, from the larger cities known for public protests, like Des Moines and Iowa City, to much smaller communities in parts of the state that voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, like Algona and Red Oak.
Most of these events will take place on Thursday evening, but the rallies in Cedar Rapids and Grinnell are scheduled for mid-day. Davenport and Glenwood are on opposite sides of the state, but in both cities, organizers have decided to skip rallies and marches in favor of a different approach.
“As part of the national Good Trouble Lives On day of nonviolent action, we’ll gather at the TMBC Lincoln Center in Davenport to commemorate Lewis’s work, recommit ourselves to defending democracy and civil rights, and build community solidarity,” organizers in that city said.
“Doors open at 6 p.m. for voter registration, information about voting rights, and informational tables hosted by local community organizations. Light refreshments will be available. At 7 p.m. prompt, we’ll screen the award-winning documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble in the auditorium, followed by community speakers and a discussion about attacks facing our civil and human rights.”
In Glenwood, organizers are hosting a protest poster- and postcard-making party.
“Come anytime between 5:30-7:30, there is no set schedule. Bring your own supplies or we will have limited supplies available to share,” they said. “While this is a free event to attend, we will have free-will donations to help cover the cost of supplies. We will have posters, postcards, cardstock, scissors, markers, stencils, ideas, & a chance to build community in our area!”
Information for the Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action events is listed below.
• Algona: Register for location, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Ames: Roosevelt Park (9th Street & Roosevelt Ave), 6-8 p.m.
• Ankeny: 800 SE Delaware Ave, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Burlington/West Burlington: Westland Mall (550 S Gear Ave), West Burlington, 6-7 p.m.
• Cedar Rapids: 8th Ave across from the courthouse, 11 a.m.-noon
• Davenport: TMBC at the Lincoln Resource Center (318 E 7 St), 6-9 p.m.
• Decorah: 312 W Water St, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Des Moines: Iowa State Capitol, 6-8 p.m.
• Fairfield: Central Park (107 S Main St), 4-5:30 p.m.
• Fort Dodge: S 29th Street and 1st Avenue S, 5-6 p.m.
• Glenwood: 430 1st St, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Grinnell: Central Park (925 3rd Ave), Noon-1 p.m.
• Iowa City: City Park (East Park Rd and City Park Rd, parking lot nearest the river), 7-9 p.m.
• Indianola: Register for location, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Keokuk: Main Street & 7th, 4-6 p.m.
• Manchester: Whitewater Park (210 W Main St), 5-7 p.m.
• Mount Vernon: Hwy 1 North and South, 6-7 p.m.
• Muscatine: McAvoy University Center (1403 Park Ave), 5-7 p.m.
• Red Oak: Legion Park (Broadway and Cherry St), 6-7 p.m.
• Storm Lake: W Lakeshore Dr and Lake Ave N, 4-8 p.m.
Note: There is a second listing for the same location, with an event time of 6-8 p.m.
• Waterloo: Waterloo Center for the Arts (225 Commercial St), 5-7 p.m.
• Waverly: Kohlmann Park (212 1st St NW), 4-6 p.m.
Editor’s note: This story was updated after it was first published to include the information about the event in Muscatine.
