Demonstration brings 'good trouble' to Coeur d'Alene
HAILEY HILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
A woman holds a sign among a group of demonstrators along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday.
HAILEY HILL/Press
Brett Green of Coeur d'Alene holds a sign along U.S. 95 during Thursday's "Good Trouble" demonstration.
Demonstrators cheer and hold signs along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday.
Mikal Johnson of Coeur d'Alene carries an American flag along U.S. 95 during Thursday's "Good Trouble" protest in Coeur d'Alene.
Those taking part in Thursday's "Good Trouble" demonstration wave signs and American flags along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene.
Around 100 people gathered along U.S. 95 on Thursday to participate in the national "Good Trouble" demonstration.
COEUR d’ALENE — Thursday’s "Good Trouble" demonstration wasn’t scheduled for a weekday night at random.
Rather, around 100 people gathered along U.S. 95 at Appleway Avenue in part to observe the fifth anniversary of the death of Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights activist who often used the phrase “good trouble” in reference to acts of protest.
Similar demonstrations were held across the country, the focus being pushback against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and what organizer Julie Celeberti called the “taking back” of civil rights.
“Nonviolent, 'good trouble' is where the power of the people lies,” Celeberti said. “People are angry and are more comfortable letting it be known.”
While some protesters held signs, many waved American flags as the late afternoon traffic rolled past.
Celeberti said the flags were especially important to demonstrate “solidarity with patriotic Americans.”
“We want to take back ownership of the flag,” Celeberti said.
In similar spirit, Coeur d’Alene resident Mikal Johnson was dressed as Captain America as he carried a large American flag.
“I want to support everyone here,” Johnson said.
Brett Green, also of Coeur d’Alene, said he began attending local demonstrations because of the community he found.
“The first time I came to a protest, I didn’t think it would do much,” Green said, “but I found how empowering it was to stand with others.”
Green carried a sign that read “honk if you like civil rights” — a message he believed would be unifying across party lines.
“I don’t think Trump is going to change his mind on these things,” Green said, “but we can still remind others that they aren’t alone.”
Brett Green of Coeur d'Alene holds a sign along U.S. 95 during Thursday's "Good Trouble" demonstration.
Demonstrators cheer and hold signs along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday.
Mikal Johnson of Coeur d'Alene carries an American flag along U.S. 95 during Thursday's "Good Trouble" protest in Coeur d'Alene.
Those taking part in Thursday's "Good Trouble" demonstration wave signs and American flags along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene.
Around 100 people gathered along U.S. 95 on Thursday to participate in the national "Good Trouble" demonstration.ARTICLES BY HAILEY HILL
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