By Jefferson Díaz
The Truth Reporter
At least 600 people filled Sylvania Avenue, behind Franklin Mall, on July 17 for the “Good Trouble” march, an event organized in memory of the U.S. Representative John Lewis, an activist and elected official who fought for civil rights and opposed President Donald Trump during his first term.
The Toledo Persist movement and the Lucas County Democrats coordinated the event, which began at 6 p.m. with a walk along the avenue and ended in front of the Lucas County Shared Services building parking lot.
Sky Beckwith, chair of the Lucas County Democratic Party, indicated that this event, while not having a unified message like the No Kings March, was about ensuring everyone’s voices “are heard” and that the political changes that America needs must be achieved “through voting.”
On November 4 Toledoans will go to the polls to elect a mayor and six at-large city council members. This date was repeated throughout the march as a reminder of the upcoming electoral—and democratic—processes in the city.
Although there were some skirmishes with people driving by and shouting pro Trump slogans, most of those who watched the march honked in support and shouted for the protests to continue until there was a change of government.
“Our democracy is in danger, and we can’t remain silent. We have to go out and vote against everything that’s happening,” said Lakisha Johnson, a 70 year-old woman and march attendee who recalled that in her entire life as a registered Democrat and African American rights activist, she had never seen “such a nefarious and terrible attack on our democratic institutions.”
One of the most repeated messages among the protesters was their opposition to the anti-immigration policies being implemented by the Trump administration in its second term. The most repeated demands were to end the violent ICE raids against migrants, to demand that federal agents not wear face coverings, and to not deport people without due process.
Toledo police protected the marchers and ensured that no one blocked the passage of cars on the avenue.