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Bastrop demonstration part of national day of action
BASTROP — The next chapter of nonviolent protest will unfold on the Bastrop Bridge this week as organizers join a national movement marking the anniversary of U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ death.
Good Trouble Lives On is a nationwide day of action honoring Lewis’ legacy. The Bastrop demonstration, hosted by the Coalition of Democratic Allies, will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, atop the Colorado River pedestrian bridge.
Organizers said the protest responds to what they call growing threats to civil and human rights.
“In America, the power lies with the people, and we’re rising to prove it,” Coalition President Ruth Todd said in the event announcement. “This is more than a protest — it’s a moral reckoning.”
Organizers cited recent proposals, including the SAVE Act and increased restrictions on public protest, as part of what they see as a broader attack on civil rights under the Trump administration. The event aims to carry forward Lewis’ call to get into “good trouble” — principled, peaceful resistance in pursuit of justice.
Lewis, a longtime Georgia congressman and civil rights icon, died July 17, 2020. He was known for his leadership in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and lifelong advocacy for voting rights.
The Bastrop gathering comes just weeks after more than 700 people filled the same bridge for the No Kings demonstration June 14. That protest, organized by the Bastrop County Democratic Party, was part of a separate nationwide effort and highlighted opposition to political overreach and support for democratic institutions.
Mary Liz Singleton, secretary of the Bastrop County Democratic Party and a co-host of the upcoming event, called the June protest “the most successful bridge protest Bastrop County Democrats have ever held.”
Todd said the evening demonstration will focus on civic engagement and will be rooted in nonviolence.
“A core principle behind our actions is a commitment to nonviolence in all we do,” she said in the same announcement. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
Participants are encouraged to bring signs and flags promoting justice, voting rights and civil liberties. Organizers expect attendees from across Bastrop County and surrounding communities.
