As 85-year-old Joe Douglas stood near Watson Park belting out a civil rights-era Pete Seeger song, he reflected on a time of upheaval that he said was strikingly similar to today’s political landscape.
“This song was from a time of danger, so I’m singing out a warning,” Douglas said during Thursday evening’s “Good Trouble Lives On” rally — an anti-Trump protest designed to also pay homage to civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis on the fifth anniversary of his death.
As vehicles streamed down Sixth Street with horns blaring, dozens of rallygoers displayed an assortment of signs mostly targeting President Donald Trump — while others took aim at Republican members of Kansas’ congressional delegation.
A protester could be seen holding a sign that read “Arrest the president, we have evidence.” Other messages were centered on immigration crackdowns and health care policy — including “No human is illegal, “Make America kind again,” “Equality hurts no one,” and “Where law ends, tyranny begins.”
Lewis’ desire for confronting social injustices in nonviolent ways was woven into the protest as a “core principle,” according to event organizers. And protesters adhered to that during two hours of peaceful action.
Lawrence resident Chelsy Larson said she attended to give her two young daughters a firsthand perspective of hot-button issues engulfing the political realm. Larson said her daughters and others from the Hillcrest neighborhood constructed signs in the leadup to the event Thursday morning.
“Our girls made some about education — since a lot is happening with that,” Larson said. “And “it’s made them feel good to see so many other people out here with signs.”
Amii Castle, a constitutional law professor at the University of Kansas, expressed displeasure with Trump’s agenda of retribution against a seemingly endless list of political foes and governmental agencies alike.
“Our government is essentially heading toward authoritarianism,” Castle said, adding that she is also disgusted by Trump’s “grifting” tendencies — using the presidency to enrich his family.
While “Good Trouble Lives On” protests were held in many cities across the nation, Castle said “harmful” federal policy is being emulated at the state level. She touched on anti-abortion measures passed by the Kansas Legislature’s Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate during the 2025 session.
“They’re cramming very harmful legislation down our throats,” she said. “It seems like our state legislature is its own hot mess.”
Castle added that Lewis would be “pretty damn proud” of the sheer number of impassioned activists who turned out for the event. She added that Lewis would also likely be “distraught” by what’s unfolding during the second Trump administration. Trump in 2020 criticized Lewis for not attending his inauguration and State of the Union — while claiming that he has accomplished more for the Black community than Lewis.
Lawrence resident Margaret Truesdell said that her activism stems from the fundamental issue of racial equality.
“As a white woman, there are so many people with lesser rights than I have,” she said. “So with that privilege, I should be out here.”
Another protest is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 19 at the State Capitol in Topeka. Organizers plan to meet at the south steps to “demand accountability, equity, and protection of democratic values,” according to a news release.
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Matt Resnick has extensive experience covering state government, county government, and K-12 education for several Kansas and Missouri publications — most recently as a Statehouse reporter in Topeka for State Affairs.
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