On the fifth anniversary of the passing of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis, protests against the current presidential administration will take place across the country — including in downtown Appleton.
Titled “Good Trouble Lives On,” the national protest is a nod to Lewis’ quote to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble,” referring non-violent activism to combat civil injustice.
According to the protest’s website, hundreds of demonstrations will take place around the country July 17 to “respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration.”
Emily Tseffos, chair of the Democratic Party of Outagamie County and one of the organizers of the Appleton protest, said they anticipate a couple hundred attendees, due to news of the national event circulating online.
When and where is the Appleton protest?
The Appleton “Good Trouble Lives On” protest will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 17 in Houdini Plaza, on the corner of College Avenue and South Appleton Street.
Who organized the protest in Appleton?
Appleton’s protest is hosted by Forward Fox Valley and the Democratic Party of Outagamie County.
“It’s a family-friendly event. It’s really just about uplifting our community and making sure that we’re calling to attention the harm that is being done,” Tseffos said. “So really just focusing on gathering together, exercising your voice, being in community with one another and kind of continuing the energy that we’ll need to stand up for the causes we believe in and the people that we love.”
What topics does the Good Trouble Lives On protest focus on?
According to the national event’s description on its website, the protest encourages people to demand an end to various actions happening under the Trump administration.
The website specifically mentions the SAVE Act, which passed in the House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate. It would require people to provide documentation proving U.S. citizenship when voting in federal elections. While supporters of the bill say it will prevent election fraud, opponents call it a step toward voter suppression, and say it will disproportionately impact communities like married women, students and rural Americans.
The “Good Trouble Lives On” protest additionally encourages people to protest the Trump administration’s “extreme crackdown on … our right to protest and free speech,” referring to Trump’s sending of the National Guard to protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an action some saw as hostility toward protestors.
“(Sixty) years ago, President Johnson federalized the National Guard to protect peaceful civil rights marchers in Selma. Now, President Trump is calling the Guard to stop protestors from using their voice and to block progress on issues we care about,” the event’s description reads.
Tseffos said the Appleton protest encourages attendees to raise their voices about any issue that is important to them in the current political climate.
“There’s just so much going on right now that’s impacting our community members in different ways,” Tseffos said. “Locally, we’re saying come and bring whatever signs you want for whatever causes you need, because we don’t want to prioritize one cause over another in this moment. Anything that moves our community forward together is what we want to focus on.”
Where are the other protests in northeast Wisconsin?
Of the hundreds of “Good Trouble Lives On” protests taking place across all 50 states, around 50 will be in Wisconsin. Protests in northeast Wisconsin will be at the following places and times:
Green Bay: 5 p.m., at Leicht Memorial Park, 128 Dousman St.
Manitowoc: 7 p.m., at Manitowoc Shipbuilders Company Park, 51 Maritime Drive
Marinette: 4:30 p.m., at Stephenson Island, 1680 Bridge St.
Oshkosh: 1 p.m., at 315 N. Main St.
Shawano: 5:30 p.m., at East Green Bay Street and South Main Street
Sheboygan: 5 p.m., at Sheboygan Peace Park, Broughton Drive.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: What to know about Appleton’s July 17 ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ protest