Eugene and Springfield residents showed solidarity against Trump administration policies for the “Good Trouble Lives On” activities in town on July 17.
Three Good Trouble activities in Lane County were scheduled and hundreds of other demonstrations were held nationwide in the late Congressman John Lewis‘ memory, marking five years since the death of the politician and civil rights activist.
Lewis was known for encouraging activists to engage in “good trouble, necessary trouble” to achieve positive social change.
Good Trouble in the Eugene Bethel neighborhood
More than 100 community members gathered at Clear Lake Community Center to learn about and discuss local actions in the face of the Trump administration’s “attack on human rights.”
The Eugene-Springfield NAACP held an informational press conference and Q&A in the spirit of Lewis’ “good trouble” ideology.
“Our civil rights are under attack,” said Eugene-Springfield NAACP President Demond Hawkins, addressing the crowd. “It’s not just my civil rights and your civil rights. It’s not just my friends and my neighbors, it’s your friends and your neighbors.”
Hawkins said the rights Lewis fought for are being stripped away through laws and “crazy executive orders” signed by President Donald Trump. He pointed to the recent crackdown on immigration, comparing the administration’s rhetoric around immigrants to what was said about Black people in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Hawkins said, similarly to how immigrants are being stereotyped today, Black people were historically labeled as drug dealers, rapists and murderers.
Hawkins referenced Mahdi Khanbabazadeh, who was arrested in Beaverton by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 15. He was picking up his son from school.
“We cannot live in fear,” Hawkins said. “This isn’t really just about NAACP and what we can do. It’s about also what you can do.”
Eugene-Springfield NAACP President Demond Hawkins encourages the crowd of more than 100 residents to engage in “good trouble, necessary trouble” and activism at Clear Lake Community Center for the Eugene/Springfield NAACP “Good Trouble Lives On” community gathering on July 17, 2025.
“Get into trouble. Not just any trouble — good trouble, necessary trouble,” he said, echoing Lewis.
Hawkins said Lewis’ path to activism resonated with him. He said his “aha” moment was the killing of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests and invigorated the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I felt like it was time to get off the sidelines, and to be able to talk about that today and relate it to him and his legacy, I’m grateful,” Hawkins said.
This was NAACP’s first big community event since moving into the Clear Lake Community Center, which will serve as the group’s hub going forward. Hawkins said he was pleased by the turnout.
He said the audience asked some great questions about how to get involved and is looking forward to continuing to be engaged with the community as they establish their home base in Bethel.
Eugene-Springfield NAACP President Demond Hawkins talks about community action at Clear Lake Community Center for the “Good Trouble Lives On” community gathering on July 17, 2025.
In addition to soliciting donations, which helps fund its education programming, NAACP also announced its book drive which will run from July 17 through Aug. 28, which is the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
NAACP is asking for books intended for K-12 readers, especially those by diverse authors, to add to the new “Good Trouble Library” that will be accessible to all in the Clear Lake Community Center.
Good Trouble on Harlow Bridge in Springfield
Another Good Trouble action was planned for 4:30 p.m. at the Harlow Bridge, overlooking I-5 in Springfield.
This story will be updated.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene-Springfield counter Trump administration with “good trouble” actions