"Get in good trouble, necessary trouble." That was John Lewis. He said it for decades, he lived it from the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the floor of Congress, and he kept saying it right up until he died on July 17, 2020.
Six years later, almost to the day, his words are showing up on a street corner in Clearwater.
On Saturday, July 18, the national Good Trouble Lives On movement comes to Pinellas County. The host is John Lewis Actions, and the ask is simple: show up, stand for voting rights, and keep the trouble going.
What's happening
- What: Clearwater: Good Trouble Lives On, a nonviolent community rally
- When: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 AM
- Where: The corner of Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Park Place Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33759 (the Clearwater Mall area)
- Who: Hosted by John Lewis Actions. Open to everyone.
- District: Congressional District 13, Florida House District 58
Why it matters
John Lewis spent his life on one fight: the right to vote, and the right to have that vote actually count. The organizers behind July 18 say that fight is back on, pointing to new efforts to restrict ballot access and concentrate power. You do not have to agree on every policy to agree on the premise Lewis built his career on. In America, the people choose their leaders.
And this is a local event with a local stake. Clearwater sits in Congressional District 13, a Pinellas swing seat both parties fight over every cycle. Showing up on this corner is not symbolic. It is your district.
Before you go (read this part)
A few ground rules straight from the organizers:
- Park in the large mall lot. The small business lots along Gulf to Bay are tow-away zones. Do not give yourself a worse Saturday than you signed up for.
- This is a nonviolent action. Participants are asked to de-escalate any confrontation and to act lawfully.
- Leave weapons at home. That includes legally permitted ones. No exceptions.
- Bring your signs, water, and a friend.
What you can do
- RSVP. It is free and it takes about 30 seconds: reserve your spot on Mobilize.
- Show up. Saturday, July 18, 9:00 AM, Gulf to Bay and Park Place.
- Bring backup. One sign is good. Two friends with signs is better.
- Know who you are showing up for. Not sure who represents you in CD-13 or Tallahassee? Look up your reps before you go.
- Share this post. The corner fills up because people tell people.
Sources: Good Trouble Lives On: Clearwater (Mobilize) | John Lewis Actions