Saline Joins Nationwide “Good Trouble” Day of Action

SALINE, Mich. — On Thursday, nearly 200 residents of Saline gathered downtown to take part in the nationwide “Good Trouble Lives On” day of action, honoring the late Congressman and civil rights hero John Lewis. The event was one of more than 1,500 peaceful protests held across all 50 states, organized to denounce the Trump administration’s rollbacks on civil rights, social programs, and protections for marginalized communities.

Carrying signs that read “Defend Democracy,” “Abolish Ice,” and “Families Belong Together,” community members of all ages marched and rallied under the shared call for “Good Trouble”—a phrase coined by Lewis to describe the kind of necessary disruption required to confront injustice.

A Family-Friendly Day with a Serious Message

The Saline demonstration included kid-friendly activities such as button making, a community poster-making table, and a storytelling circle where local volunteers read aloud about the life of John Lewis. Families joined together in chants, and children proudly carried hand-decorated signs promoting peace, justice, and equality.

Organizers noted that the day was not just about protest—but also about hope and civic engagement.

"Trump's agenda impacts everyone, families included," stated Ben Schaaf, co-lead of Saline Indivisible. "For this event we wanted to create opportunities for our community to learn about John Lewis, his legacy, and Good Trouble. The topic is something that kids instinctively understand; they know the importance of empathy and standing up for injustices. We are pleased with the participation. It was great to see kids (and adults) engaging with crafts and learning about John Lewis's life."

What’s Good Trouble?

“Coined by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, "good trouble" means coming together to take non-violent action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change. That could look like a candlelight vigil, a community event, a rally, or any other creative way you can think of to stand up and remind the world that we will continue to fight back against this authoritarian regime,” stated the Indivisible website, which organized the rally along with its local chapter, Saline Indivisible.

Honoring a Civil Rights Legend

The event coincided with the fifth anniversary of John Lewis’s passing. Lewis, a Freedom Rider and leader of the 1965 Selma march known as “Bloody Sunday,” spent over 30 years representing Georgia’s 5th District in Congress. He was the last living member of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders and became an outspoken critic of Donald Trump during the president’s first term.

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America,” Lewis said in 2020 while commemorating the historic Selma to Montgomery marches.

Thursday’s demonstrations served as both a remembrance of Lewis’s courage and a call to action in the face of what organizers describe as ongoing threats to democracy. According to the movement’s website, “Good Trouble Lives On” was created in response to “attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration.”

Local Voices, National Movement

As cars passed by the Saline gathering, many drivers honked and waved in support. Community members expressed a mix of frustration and determination as they stood alongside neighbors calling for justice and unity.

The rally echoed similar actions across the country, following last month’s highly attended “No Kings Day” demonstrations, which drew over 1,000 attendees in Saline and over 5 million across the United States. These protests continue amid growing concerns over political division, climate change, and immigration policy. A recent Associated Press-NORC poll found that about half of Americans say they have been personally harmed by Trump-era policies.

In Saline, the message was clear: Good trouble lives on.

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