This was a day to honor the memory of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis, who said "Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." On a weeknight - one of the hottest, most humid days on record in 2025 - hundreds of Newarkers stood in solidarity with 1,600 similar “Good Trouble” protests held across the nation. Participants gathered at the steps of Old College Hall to hear remarks before marching down Main Street and along Cleveland Avenue. Guest speakers included state representatives Madinah Wilson-Anton and Kendra Johnson. Those who defied the intense heat and humidity brought energy enough to fill the streets—energy fueled by deep concern over an out-of-control Trump administration. This is what democracy looks like!

Millions of patriots gathered at thousands of locations across the nation in peaceful protest of the rising authoritarianism of Trump and his administration. Taxpayers opposed an authoritarian military parade in our nation's capitol on the president's birthday! A HUGE crowd of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Newark community members gathered at the steps of Old College Hall before marching through downtown in a powerful show of unity. The program featured remarks from Governor Matt Meyer and other speakers, along with spirited flag-waving by enthusiastic protesters. The message of the day was one of hope, peace, the rule of law, democracy, and freedom from tyranny. In the U.S.A., we do not respect would-be kings!

As Trump and Musk's DOGE continued to run roughshod over government budgets, among the most outrageous of proposed cuts were to the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) including a $2 billion reduction in contracts and massive layoffs that jeopardized benefits and access to care. With Memorial Day around the corner, we brought our Newark community together in a Support Veterans Rally and Food Drive because: Silence is complicity in the face of a corrupt regime!

An estimated 2,500 protesters showed up to tell the Trump administration: we will not stand by and allow Musk and DOGE to take a chainsaw to our government services! Keeping the momentum up from the nationwide "Hands Off" protest two weeks before, the change of venue allowed us to be visible to many more drivers than we could reach downtown. Protesters expressed the need to be seen and to give hope to others dismayed by the outrageous and illegal conduct of the administration.