Image by Koshu Kunii.

Americans are mobilizing en masse against the Trump administration. First, there was “50 protests, 50 states, 1 day.” Then came “Hands Off” and “No Kings.” On July 17, the 50501 organizers behind these national days planned yet another slogan-driven day of action: “Good Trouble Lives On,” on the fifth anniversary of John Lewis’ passing. John Lewis was a legendary congressman who was famously arrested 45 times during the Civil Rights Movement for getting in “good trouble.”

If you attended any of these events – and especially if they were your first protest – I’m glad you attended. Defeating fascism will take all of us, and we need a diversity of tactics to protect our communities from Trump’s fascist agenda.

But what many participants showing up to 50501 events may not realize is that these events are not protests; they are parades – at best. Fascism won’t be defeated by parades every few weeks. We need good trouble, just as John Lewis intended. And 50501’s version of “good trouble” won’t cut it.

For the July 17 “Good Trouble Lives On” event in New York City, organizers instructed participants to wear white and bring flowers rather than protest signs. Organizers and marshals led a crowd of 3000 people – mostly older and white, which tends to be the main audience of 50501 – for a five-block loop around 26 Federal Plaza. This building houses both the field office for NYC Immigration and Customs Enforcement and immigration courts, where ICE agents have unlawfully arrested hundreds of immigrants during their routine appointments and hearings. After a short march, participants were ushered to surround the building in a U-shape (notably not blocking any entrances), and asked to sit for a 30-second moment of silence. This brief sit-down in the street was characterized as a mass participation in “good trouble.”

No one can deny 50501’s ability to........

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