In a display of pure Bay Area sass and resistance, local activists took to the streets of Walnut Creek and Concord on Thursday, channeling the spirit of civil rights legend John Lewis with their “Good Trouble Lives On” rally. Picture this: over 100 protesters, including one person in a literal dinosaur costume, standing up against ICE and the Trump administration’s brutal immigration policies.

Dinosaurs, Democracy, and Defiance

Shae Jewell, the mastermind behind the dinosaur getup, summed it up perfectly: “I never want to see democracy go the way of the dinosaurs”. Talk about making a statement! The protesters weren’t just standing around - they were loud, proud, and ready to make some noise.

Voices of Resistance

From Pat Baxter, daughter of Irish immigrants, to Concord Vice Mayor Laura Nakamura, the crowd was a powerful mix of community members sick and tired of seeing immigrants treated like criminals. Kelly Welsh, a local attorney, didn’t mince words about the Democratic Party’s lackluster response: “Our political leaders are not speaking out enough”.

Community Over Cruelty

The rally wasn’t just about anger - it was about hope, community, and standing together. Ogie Strogatz from Indivisible ReSisters Contra Costa put it brilliantly: “We are standing up, we are speaking out. We are saying ‘This cannot be’.” And with car horns honking in support and passionate speakers sharing stories, it was clear that the Bay Area isn’t backing down.