Riverdale Rally Honors John Lewis’ Legacy With “Good Trouble” Protest Against Trump Policies

On the fifth anniversary of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis’ death, dozens in greater Riverdale gathered to honor his call to “make good trouble” by protesting President Donald Trump’s social safety net rollback and aggressive deportation tactics.

The “Good Trouble Lives On” demonstration was organized by Beacon Shine the Light and Northwest Bronx Indivisible — two grassroots groups fighting what they see as a threat to democracy and human rights under the Trump administration. 

Bearing handmade signs that read “Celebrate the Constitution,” “WWJLD: What Would John Lewis Do?” and “Hands Off Our Healthcare,” to name a few, a wave of residents stood shoulder to shoulder on Johnson Avenue, sounding noisemakers as passing cars honked in solidarity.

“This is a moment to remember, but also to act,” said MaryAnn King, a Beacon Shine the Light member. “We’re here to honor John Lewis’s legacy the way he lived it — by showing up and standing up against injustice.”

Born to sharecroppers in Troy, Alabama, Lewis emerged as a leader in the civil rights movement as a student activist. At 23, he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. He helped organize the Freedom Rides and led the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where he was brutally beaten on what became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Lewis would serve more than three decades in Congress, pushing for voting rights, immigration reform, healthcare access and LGBTQ+ equality. 

But the lawmaker was most remembered for his unwavering belief in nonviolent protest, or what he famously called “good trouble.”

In an homage to his life and legacy, King read from Lewis’ final letter to the nation, published after his death: “Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. The way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the most excellent way.”

In staging a peaceful protest, she added, the group was carrying that message forward – a symbol of their refusal to stay silent in the face of eroding democracy.

In a series of speeches, advocates and community leaders reminded attendees they are part of something larger — a network of thousands of similar groups across the country, working together in what was described as joyful resistance.

Several speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining that joy, even amid fear and fatigue.

“We’re in rough times,” State Senator Gustavo Rivera said. “It’s not about politics anymore — it’s about defending democratic institutions.”

Rivera called on neighbors to find ways to resist, both large and small,  and to stay connected through community. His message echoed Lewis’ belief in persistent,  collective action rooted in peace.

One of the night’s most emotional moments was a tribute to Dylan Lopez Contreras, a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum-seeker and student at the Kennedy Campus in Marble Hill. 

He was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late May after showing up to a routine immigration check-in and has since been held in a Pennsylvania detention center.

Attendees were invited to write letters to Lopez Contreras and other detained immigrants, with printed addresses and materials handed out at a nearby table. Volunteers also distributed voter outreach postcards, urging rallygoers to participate in campaigns targeting swing states ahead of upcoming elections.

Daniel Guenzsberger, a longtime Riverdale resident and organizer, has helped lead Northwest Bronx Indivisible since the group formed following Trump’s first inauguration. 

To him, the evening’s vigil was both a tribute and a warning – a reminder that history can slip backward when people turn away.

“We can’t just accept being comfortable and hope that Trump is only hurting undocumented immigrants,” Guenzsberger remarked. “That’s only the beginning. First they come for one group – then they come for the rest of us.”

In years past, the group had joined larger rallies downtown, but this time, Guenzsberger said, it was essential to hold something local and bring the message to Riverdale’s front door. 

That’s where Beacon Shine the Light came in. 

The group gathers weekly on Johnson Avenue, where the John Lewis rally was held, to advocate for preserving civil rights and hand out informational flyers.

“[Northwest Bronx Indivisible] thought about going into Manhattan,” Gunsberger said. “But decided, let’s do it here. We felt we needed something for our community. So we teamed up with the Beacon Shine the Light people.”

When The Press asked Guenzsberger what Lewis’ mantra, “Make Good Trouble,” meant to him, He responded simply:

“Doing something that’s maybe loud and not so technically polite, like being on the street – but the act is for a worthy cause,” he said. “And this, we believe, is a worthy cause.”

As the rally ended, organizers invited everyone to return the following Thursday. 

“Same place, same time,” one volunteer called out.