Sacramento’s ‘Good Trouble’ rally draws hundreds, hours after immigration arrests
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- Hundreds gathered at Capitol to protest racial injustice and immigration arrests.
- Demonstration followed U.S. Border Patrol arrests of 12 people in south Sacramento.
- Protesters honored John Lewis’ legacy, advocating nonviolent resistance and unity.
Melanie Gonzalez Aguilar stood on the grass to the right of her sister Thursday evening in front of the West steps of California’s Capitol building. Above the sea of faces, colorful signs bobbed and swayed.
Just that morning, she was in front of Home Depot protesting U.S. Border Patrol arrests.
“It was a very small protest, but it still fills my heart to see our community in south Sacramento speaking up because we don’t usually see that,” she said.
In front of the Capitol building about 800 people gathered as part of the nationwide protest against the Trump administration. Called “Good Trouble Lives On,” the demonstration focused on racial justice and voting rights.
Organized by the same group behind the “No Kings” rallies last month and “Hands Off” in April, hundreds of thousands of Americans were expected to take to the streets Thursday, the fifth anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’ death.
The latest demonstration got its name from a famous quote by Lewis, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble,” which encouraged nonviolent protest to incite change.
The peaceful demonstration in California’s capital city had been planned for weeks but a gained a sharper focus on immigration advocacy, coming several hours after the Thursday morning operation at a Home Depot in south Sacramento, where U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 12 people.
“This is the fear of my community,” Gonzalez Aguilar said.
For Gonzalez Aguilar, the protest was about occupying the space. Her community had been sharing stories of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the constant fear of arrest or deportation, a fear made more personal when ICE agents appeared at her father’s workplace, where he is employed in home utilities.
Also the president of Brown Issues at Sacramento City College, Gonzalez Aguilar emphasized the importance of showing up when having the privilege to do so. She noticed that some people were not in attendance at the evening’s protest due to the morning’s enforcement operation, part of which was shown on national TV due to the presence of an embedded Fox News camera crew.
“I want to be that person that fills in the space, not the one that leaves it there,” Gonzalez Aguilar said. “I’m happy to be here.”
Melanie Thornton was among the many sitting in lawn chairs with a less conspicuous sign — an 8.5-by-11 message that read “a little sign for a little man,” referring to President Donald Trump.
The Sacramento resident said she showed up because of her love for Lewis, who died in 2020 at age 80. Even though she’s been to many rallies in the past, she said, Thursday’s message resonated.
“I just feel like I need to speak up every chance I can get,” she said. “I don’t like what they’re doing to immigrants. I don’t like masked people taking women off the street and not identifying themselves. That’s terrifying.”
Meanwhile, Sacramento resident Andrea Kincaid and her dog, Koska, stood in the shade listening to the speakers. Koska sported a T-shirt with handwritten text” “You can pet me if you’re not a fascist.”
“I’m doing it for my daughter and I’m doing it for all the people who are afraid to be out here,” Kincaid said, referencing ICE protests in Los Angeles, where her daughter lives.
Behind Kincaid, Rick Codina stood surrounded by friends in a sign-making tent. His friend and “original brain child” for the tent, Dwight MacCurty, wanted to encourage people to be creative with their voices.
“It’s really all about freedom of speech,” MacCurty said. “That’s kind of the cool thing with this whole activity. It allows people free expression.”
According to Codina, the team distributed around 1,500 signs for people throughout the protest. The tent covered all sign-making needs, from cardboard and markers to handmade, recycled sticks.
“People came with some beautiful signs, but lots of people came with their anger and their spirit,” Bill Westerfield said. “And we’re giving them a way for them to express their spirit.”
In the spirit of Lewis, the message was clear for Carlos Padilla, the organizing coordinator at SEIU Local 1021. At the podium, he encouraged people to lock arms with one another and find community in the “same mission,” despite “different everything.”
“Are we going to cause no trouble? Are we going to get in the way?” he called out, the crowd erupting in cheers. “So with that, go fight and win.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 9:35 PM.