Thursday, July 17 marks the fifth anniversary of iconic U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ passing. A coalition of groups have come together to host “John Lewis Day: Good Trouble Lives On,” including several actions in Maryland.
Transformative Justice Coalition, Black Voters Matter, Indivisible, Declaration For American Democracy, and Public Citizen are the groups involved, organizing a national day of nonviolent action on July 17, 2025 in response to actions the Trump administration has taken to diminish civil rights of all people in America, citizens and non-citizens alike.
John Lewis was a congressman from Georgia, born in 1940 in Troy, Alabama to a family of former sharecroppers. As a child, then a college student, he was deeply inspired by the activism of civil rights icons like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. He joined fellow college students in the Nashville Student Movement to launch sit-ins against segregation in Nashville. He always followed the compass of non-violent direct action. He famously called the stir his activism caused “good trouble.”
Lewis was a Freedom Rider protesting segregated bus terminals and became chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and helped organize the March on Washington at the tender age of 23. Leading a group of more than 600 across the bridge on the march from Selma to Montgomery he was brutally attacked by Alabama state troopers, who fractured his skull with their nightsticks.
In 1986, Lewis began a storied career in Congress, serving as a U.S. Representative for Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District. He held his seat for three decades, battling for all segments of the population to have access to voting rights, health care, and employment. He also fought for at-risk women, children, families, and veterans.
To continue his legacy, people around the nation are holding actions on the anniversary of his death and in the days immediately following. Here are some of the events happening in and around Baltimore.
Harford County Democratic Central Committee and 50501 are holding a “Good Trouble” rally on Thursday, July 17 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a sign-waving on Route 40 in Aberdeen along with a collection of donations of diapers, wipes, and diaper creams for local families. Parking is available at the Amtrak Aberdeen Station.
Indivisible Baltimore is hosting a “John Lewis: Good Trouble” Screenings and sign wave at on Thursday, July 17 at 5 p.m. Baltimore County Democratic State Central Committee Member Tyrod Haynes (District 11A) will join special guests and attendees for a Sit-In Screening of “John Lewis: Good Trouble” at Pikes Studio Theater in Pikesville, Maryland. The event honors Lewis’ legacy and urges recommitment to the fight to eliminate voter suppression. This screening is sold out, but people can still sign up for the Marquee sign wave.
There will be a “Good Trouble Lives On” rally held in Woodlawn, Maryland in the Weis Markets parking lot on Security Boulevard on Thursday, July 17 from 6 – 8 p.m. The event is a general rally in response to “the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people.” Citing voter suppression bills like the SAVE act to the criminalization of protest, rally organizers view this as more than a protest — it is a moral reckoning and a continuation of the movement Lewis helped lead.
The Ivy Bookstore is hosting a book event on Thursday, July 17 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. called “Environment, Democracy, and Judaism.” There will be a discussion of the book, “To Forever Inhabit this Earth” by Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, which explores the Jewish imperative to care for the earth. Judaism considers this an essential component of caring for each other. The discussion will focus on the bond between our human rights and a healthy environment. Attendees will be invited to take actions that can fight back against the drive to tyranny.
On Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to noon, Indivisible Baltimore is joining Urban Reads Bookstore for a Community Walk in honor of John Lewis. The public is invited for community, conversation, food, and networking. There will also be voter registration at the bookstore. The owner, Tia Hamilton, opened Urban Reads to promote literacy and support Black residents. She has faced doxxing, racist messages and threats Indivisible describes as being “due to her work with the magazine State vs. Us, which focuses on mass incarceration and systemic racism.” Hamilton has received broad support from the Waverly and broader Baltimore community.
Also on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Indivisible Baltimore is joining Emmart Church for their John Lewis Day of Action. Located in Milford Mill, Emmart Church is planning a day of celebration, community empowerment, and action for all ages. Expect local artists, nonprofits, food vendors, and activities that uplift and inspire. Find all kinds of resources, meet people making a change, and support your local businesses in an atmosphere filled with live music and connection. Attendees can sign up directly on the church’s link so they know how many people to expect.
Where were all these protests, 4 years ago, when our rights really were being taken away?