“Good Trouble” Protest Staged in Downieville

DOWNIEVILLE — Last Thursday, July 17, over 1,500 communities across the nation witnessed protests against the Trump administration. In Sierra County, the tiny town of Downieville was among those communities responding to the call for a “Day of Action” promoted by national political action organizations, the League of Conservation Voters and GoodTroubleLivesOn.org.

From 4:30 - 5:30 PM, a group of twenty people assembled at the corner of Highway 49 and Nevada Street to display homemade signs (“Make Good Trouble - Be Kind”, “No Kings Ever”, “Stop Forest Service Reductions”, “Hands Off Forest Service”, “Due Process for All”, “Epstein Not Dead Yet - Pam Kash Trump, Show us the Files”, “A Predator is in the White House”, “Trump’s No Care Medi Care”, “We Can Do It! Rosie Says NO”, and “No Concentration Camps - Close Alligator Alcatraz”) to people driving by them. The protesters also made noise with a drum, tambourine, and their vocalizations of traditional protest songs, such as “We Shall Overcome”, “Blowin’ in the Wind”, and “We Shall Not Be Moved”.

During the event, the group was treated to many motorists expressing their support with smiles, hand signals, such as waving hands and thumbs-ups, or honks. No motorists were heard shouting out disparaging remarks, nor were any middle fingers observed.

Meanwhile, during the “Day of Action”, the bridges over Highway 49 in Grass Valley and Nevada City were also sites where many more signs were displayed and songs of protest were sung, as well. According to the Plumas Sun, members of the community in Chester were also planning to demonstrate on July 17.