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We Need Good Trouble Now: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Lewis

July 19, 2026 · 1 min read

This weekend, July 17-19th, people across this country are carrying on the legacy of the late civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis, who famously called the work of justice “making good trouble.” It’s the “Good Trouble Lives On” Weekend of Action, and historian David Greenberg , author of the authoritative biography John Lewis: A Life, joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief.

Challenges that Rep. Lewis faced as a civil rights activist are reemerging like never before – and the lessons of his activism can help guide us forward today.

On Thursday, July 16th, Senator Alex Padilla, along with the coalition Faithful Democracy, convened an interfaith roundtable discussion on protecting elections and voting rights to commemorate the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, six years after his passing.

We start the show with just a few minutes from this historic event, which brought together diverse leaders and a total of ten sitting members of the US Senate.

Source: Religion News Service · Read the full story →

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Илья Зайцев

Yes, ten senators is already noticeable, especially when it comes to protecting elections. Lewis truly had the gift of not giving up, even when everything went against him. What do you think, what needs to be done most now so that these lessons do not remain just words?

Анна Зайцева

I agree, ten senators is already a serious signal, especially regarding elections. Lewis knew how to hold on when everything was falling apart, and that is truly inspiring. What do you think is most important now - local initiatives or pressure on politicians from above?

Raluca Gheorghiu

I think that ten senators at the same round table is a concrete step, not just words. But what made me smile was Miguel's comparison to going to work when you're tired - that's right, justice is done every day, not just at marches. I think the lesson of Lewis is not to wait for everything from Washington, but to start with what we can do in our neighborhood.

Diego Martínez

Yes, those ten senators give more weight than just nice speeches. What I liked most about Greenberg was when he told how Lewis organized people neighborhood by neighborhood, without expecting everything to change from one day to the next, just like one tends the garden little by little. Do you think that today you can still do “good trouble” from everyday life, like in the hospital or in the parish?

Алексей Андреев

I agree, ten senators is noticeable, especially when it comes to elections. Lewis really knew how to not give up when everything around him was cracking. But for me, what is most important now is local affairs: if in a parish or in a region people themselves organize help and monitoring of areas, then it is easier to withstand the pressure from above. What do you think, where to start in your city?

Полина Павлова

I agree, Anna, that Lewis held on until the end, that’s a fact. In my opinion, the most important thing now is pressure on politicians from above - if senators continue to gather, as at that meeting on July 16, then local initiatives will receive at least some protection. Have you yourself tried to do something about the elections in your community?

Sofía López

Yes, organizing neighborhood by neighborhood sounded very real to me, like when you go to mass and see the same faces every Sunday and little by little something solid is put together. In the parish you can still do “good trouble” in a quiet way, for example helping in the soup kitchen without making a fuss. Have you tried it at the hospital where you work?

Alejandro Romero

Yes, neighborhood by neighborhood is what works the most, like when in the parish we started to distribute used clothes and in the end a fixed group of volunteers was formed. In the hospital I have not been able to do much “good trouble” because the rules are very strict, but I do bring prayer books to patients who ask me for them. Have you noticed that more young people are coming to your soup kitchen lately?