Protesters across all 50 states took to the streets on Thursday as part of the
‘Good Trouble Lives On’
movement, a sweeping day of action honoring the legacy of civil rights icon
John Lewis
and opposing the Trump administration’s policies.
In
New York City
, demonstrators staged a sit-in at
Federal Plaza
, blocking traffic near the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
building. Videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) show protestors chanting and holding signs as they occupied the intersection in front of the Manhattan facility.
Nationwide Protests Target Immigration and Trump Policies
The protests, which spanned over
1,600 locations
across the U.S., voiced outrage over President Trump’s recent immigration crackdowns, proposed health care cuts, and broader concerns about democratic backsliding under his administration.
Large demonstrations erupted in major cities including
Atlanta, Georgia; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; and Annapolis, Maryland
.
The Meaning Behind ‘Good Trouble’
The
Good Trouble
movement takes its name from a famous phrase by late Congressman
John Lewis
, who urged Americans to get into “good trouble, necessary trouble” to defend democracy and civil rights. Lewis, the youngest member of the historic “Big Six” civil rights leaders alongside
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
, died in 2020.
“We are navigating one of the most terrifying moments in our nation’s history,” said
Lisa Gilbert
, co-president of the progressive group
Public Citizen
, ahead of the protests. “Authoritarianism is rising, and the rights and freedoms at the heart of our democracy are under threat.”
🚨
#BREAKING
: Anti-Trump and ICE protesters are blocking an intersection outside the ICE building as hundreds stage a nearby sit-in as part of the Good Trouble protest.
📌
#Manhattan
|
#NewYork
At this time, hundreds of anti-Trump and anti-ICE protesters are blocking an…
pic.twitter.com/v6BIDybNpb
Rising Tensions and Federal Response
The latest wave of demonstrations comes just weeks after violent clashes in
Los Angeles
, where protests against immigration raids escalated into riots. In response, the Trump administration deployed
2,000 National Guard troops
to the area in June. Those forces were withdrawn earlier this week.
Following the LA unrest, a massive protest dubbed the
“No Kings” march
saw millions rallying nationwide in June, from
New York to San Francisco
, united against what organizers called Trump’s “monarchical overreach.”
As tensions continue to mount, activists promise the
Good Trouble
movement will persist through the election season, with more mass actions planned in the coming weeks.
