On a sweltering Thursday afternoon (July 17, 2025) in Des Moines, more than 200 demonstrators gathered along Marine View Drive, waving signs, flags, and messages of protest in the spirit of the late Rep. John Lewis.

Below is a first-hand report from organizer/participant Victoria Andrews:

Good Trouble In Des Moines

It was hot. And it was a weekday afternoon. So, the turnout was not the 1,600+ that had participated in June’s No Kings rally. Still, over 200 lined both sides of Marine View Drive for several blocks to emulate what Civil Rights activist Congressman John Lewis did for half a century: resist the status quo.

As a young person stoically marched back and forth across Big Catch Plaza carrying a large American flag, participants showed rush hour commuters their original – and sometimes comically blasphemous – signs. Motorists were happy to respond with honks, waves, smiles and thumbs-up.

It was noticeable how few negative reactions demonstrators got this time as compared with their July 5th rally. That one came just after the passing of the “big, beautiful bill”. Perhaps Trump supporters were emboldened then. Yet less than two weeks later, the emerging Epstein file debacle seems to have had a chill effect.

A woman from Burien said she’d been to a protest in Renton but that she liked this location better. “Why doesn’t Burien have any?” someone wondered. She shrugged and responded that she thought it might be because ICE had been spotted there.

Meanwhile, nestled in the back of the plaza, Des Moines Food Bank volunteers collected 20 pounds of non-perishable food and $424 in cash donations. One volunteer mused, “I wonder if the Trump people donate food to the hungry?”

“How far is too far for you?” That sign said it all, and these demonstrations will need to continue. They’re currently held every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday from 3-5 pm and 1^st and 3^rd Saturday from 1-2 pm at Big Catch Plaza, thanks to the efforts of Des Moines Indivisible and Seniors for the Constitution, headed by Michael Fuller and Carol Hosler respectively, along with their dedicated core of organizers.

The goal nationwide is to get to three million protesters, which statistically is the tipping point for change.

Des Moines is doing its part: Good Trouble lives on.