The organizers behind the “No Kings” protests, held across the nation on June 14, are planning a second round of protests centered on promoting racial justice, voting rights, and democracy.
On a June 16 call, “No Kings” organizers, which include the American Civil Liberties Union and the Transformative Justice Coalition, shared that the protest titled “Good Trouble Lives On” will be held on July 17. The organizers chose that date to commemorate the death of congressman John Lewis, who first frequently used the phrase “good trouble.” The July 17 demonstration will mark five years since his death.
“‘Where do we go from here’ is a famous line from a Dr. [Martin Luther King Jr.] speech,” Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition, said on the call. “And where we go from here is July the 17th… We’re going to make good trouble because good trouble lives on and we will not stop until we win: No kings, no tyrants, no despots.”
The website for the protest specifically called out the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act as being a tool used to suppress voters, and the Trump administration for its “criminalization of protest.”
“The Trump administration is launching a full-scale attack on our civil and human rights,” the website stated. “But we know the truth: in America, the power lies with the people, and we’re rising to prove it.”
Organizers touted last Saturday’s success as the ACLU shared that an estimated 5 million people participated in approximately 2,100 demonstrations throughout the United States.
“[Saturday’s] protests are a resounding message that people across the nation will not be intimidated by President [Donald] Trump’s fear tactics,” ACLU chief political and advocacy officer Deirdre Schifeling said in a press release on June 14. “Americans are brave, democracy loving people and will not sit idly by as the Trump administration feeds our Constitution into the shredder — nor will the ACLU.”
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The protests were mostly peaceful, with the exception of actions by those not a part of the protests. During a No Kings protest in California, a man drove into a crowd of protesters, fatally striking a woman. A bystander at a Salt Lake City protest was shot and killed by a peacekeeper who was firing rounds at a man who brandished a weapon. In Pennsylvania, police arrested a man who had 13 bombs stashed in his home.
The protest was held the same day as Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th Celebration of the Army, garnering criticism from the White House. “The so-called No Kings protests have been a complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance. It is sad Democrats and liberals would rather support criminals and illegals instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great U.S. Army and Flag Day,” communications director Steven Cheung wrote. “But many more Americans are commemorating our brave military men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice and who those [sic] continue to serve our country.”