photo by: Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector

Kansans rally at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025.

A “Good Trouble” rally is scheduled for Saturday at the Statehouse in Topeka.

From 10 a.m. to noon, Kansans will gather at the Capitol to honor the legacy of civil rights icon John Lewis. In the spirit of Congressman Lewis’ call to make “Good Trouble,” rally organizers say demonstrators will demand accountability, equity and protection of democratic values.

Protesters plan to physically spell out “GOOD TROUBLE” on the Capitol steps. Participants will also surround the Capitol, “symbolically protecting the building and what it represents: our democracy, our rights, and our collective future,” according to organizers with Kansas 50501, who say real Kansans are being hurt by the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Lewis, a lifelong advocate for nonviolent protest and voting rights, famously said: “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

A “Good Trouble” rally is also scheduled for Thursday in Lawrence from 5 to 7 p.m. between Watson Park and City Hall. Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death on July 17, 2020.