Alexandria residents will commemorate the fifth anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s death Thursday with a rally designed to carry forward his legacy of nonviolent action and defend democracy.
The “Good Trouble Lives On” rally, scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will take place at Judy Guse-Noritake Park (600 N. Henry Street) at the corner of Pendleton Street and Henry Street. Indivisible is hosting the event Do Something NCR, a non-partisan community organization whose objective “is to push the country to be kinder and more progressive, ensuring all people are represented and cared for”.
The event will begin with a 30-minute rally featuring speakers, followed by a march to the Alexandria Black History Museum at 902 Wythe Street before returning to the park. The march will take place on sidewalks and is not planned to obstruct traffic, but rather to bring attention to what organizers call “the unjust and inhumane actions of the administration” and to Alexandria’s community of resistance. A voter registration table and a donation table for hygiene items will be available during the event.
“From voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act to the criminalization of protest, the Trump administration is launching a full-scale attack on our civil and human rights,” organizers stated. “But we know the truth: in America, the power lies with the people, and we’re rising to prove it.”
The event offers multiple ways for community members to participate. Organizers are requesting attendees bring hygiene products, including deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, and soap, to donate to the Fund for Alexandria’s Child, which works to enhance the quality of life of children in foster care and children at risk of abuse and neglect by promoting community awareness, involvement, and resource development.
Those unable to join the rally but able to drop off hygiene products can participate by arriving early at 6 p.m. to make donations and register to vote if needed.
For residents who cannot attend or donate, organizers ask that they check in with at least five family members and friends to ensure they are registered to vote and have a plan to get to the polls in November. Vote411.org is recommended as a resource.
Organizers describe the demonstration as “a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration” and aim to “gather as a community in honor of John Lewis’ legacy, and take up the mantle to drive human and civil rights forward.”
According to organizers, “Good Trouble” is defined as “the action of coming together to take a peaceful, non-violent action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change.” They note that “the civil rights leaders of the past have shown us the power of collective action,” which is why communities across the country will take to the streets, courthouses, and community spaces on July 17 to carry forward Lewis’s fight for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all.
The rally emphasizes a commitment to nonviolent resistance. “A core principle behind our Good Trouble Lives On actions is a commitment to nonviolence in all we do,” organizers stated. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
The event is part of coordinated actions taking place across the country on July 17, five years since Lewis’s passing. Multiple John Lewis Day protests are being sponsored by national organizations including Transformative Justice Coalition, Black Voters Matter, Indivisible, Declaration For American Democracy, and Public Citizen.
Organizers describe the event as “more than a protest” — calling it “a moral reckoning” and “a continuation of the movement Lewis helped lead, and a new front in the struggle for freedom.”
Thousands attended an anti-Trump rally in Old Town last month. Speakers at the No Kings Rally included U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th), Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4), and Mayor Alyia Gaskins.
