Hundreds show up for ‘Good Trouble’ government protest in Modesto
Over 200 people gathered at downtown Modesto’s Five Points intersection for a “Good Trouble Lives On” protest Thursday evening, in honor of the late congressmember and civil rights’ leader John Lewis on the anniversary of his death.
The protest was part of a national day of action organized by the group 50501, a nonpartisan organization that formed shortly after Donald Trump took office as president the second time.
Tomas Favetto, a 23-year-old Modestan and one of the local organizers, said he and others are frustrated by the way the government and administration are functioning.
“They are violating a lot of the constitutional rights of the American people,” he said, “especially when it comes to deporting immigrants without due process.”
Concerns of increased ICE enforcement were a common theme among the protesters. There were signs that read “No ICE,” “Say no to ICE brutality” and “Melt ICE not ice caps.” Thursday morning, 12 people were detained in Sacramento, an area that up until recently had not seen large-scale enforcement.
Terri Curtis, an Oakdale resident, said she heard about the protest online and felt good about the turnout for a Thursday evening.
“And also the support we’ve been getting from the traffic has been overwhelmingly in support of what we’re trying to say,” Curtis said.
Stephen Tardis stood on the corner of Needham Street and McHenry Avenue, holding a sign that read “WWJD?” — an acronym for “What would Jesus do?”
“I grew up Christian and it really resonated with me,” he said. “I’m no longer of any faith now, but I still believe it’s a guiding light for how people conduct themselves.”
Curtis and her friend Candice Carleton both had signs honoring Lewis for his activism, including marching across the Edmund Pettus bridge in 1965. The protest, now known as “Bloody Sunday” due to the intense police brutality against participants, galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act.
Arthur Fabela, a longtime Modestan, said this was his first time attending a protest in Modesto. He normally goes to Sacramento.
“I thought I should see what my hometown has to offer,” he said. “Pretty good, I like it.”
Fabela held a double-sided flag: The United States on one side, California on the other. He also held a sign that read “Trump is illegal.” He said he was there to protest all of Trump’s policies.
“Take your pick,” he said. “They’re all bad, from taking away the budget for environmental protection, withholding funds from the Department of Education – I mean, you could go on and on.”
At Lucas Plaza, one woman waved a sign that simply read “Park and join us.”
The passing cars blared supportive honks, often drowning out the voices of the protesters themselves. One car repeatedly drove by with a flagon top that read “F*** Trump.”
Curtis said one driver flipped off the crowd, but that was the extent of negative feedback from passersby.
Steve Merk has lived in Modesto for five years since retirement and said he has been going to protests ever since Trump got into office.
“I’m sick of everybody sitting on their hands doing nothing. Everybody knows in their hearts this is wrong,” he said. “They’ve got to stop freezing and get busy doing something.”
Another Modestan, Sheila Landre, said she’s been trying to go to as many protests as she can.
“I think Trump is in denial. He thinks everything is hunky-dory and people just love him, but he’s absolutely wrong,” she said. “I can’t think of a single person who really wants him to do what he’s doing.”
The Modesto chapter of 50501 is relatively new and is made up of just four organizers.
Favetto held up a bullhorn and led a chant of “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.”
“It’s peaceful and people here are very respectful, very kind,” Favetto said.
Avonelle Tomlinson said she’s been a fan of 50501’s approach and is now one of the four local organizers.
“It’s not about being Democrat or Republican, it’s about being a fan of the Constitution and the rule of law,” she said. “We’re here to support our nation, we’re not here to fight about our political affiliation, we’re here to protect our country.”
