SAFFORD — “We’ve received eight number ones so far,” Luke Chavez said Thursday, standing on the corner of 20th Avenue and U.S. Highway 70 as part of the Good Trouble Lives On Rally.
He was referring to the number of middle fingers displayed by drivers traveling by.
The protest was the fifth in the Gila Valley since Donald Trump took office in January, and this time the focus was on cuts to social services in the Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress and signed by Trump, ICE raids and even the sudden about-face by the Trump administration on releasing information related to the late Jeffery Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking under-aged girls.
Patty Cervantes, chair of the Graham County Democratic Committee, said it was a non-partisan group of about two-dozen who took part in the protest.
“For me, the most exciting is seeing the young people coming out. Because that tells me they’re paying attention,” Cervantes said.
She added that, other than the few making rude gestures, most passers-by were polite and more than a few were supportive, especially those driving semi tractor-trailers.
Good Trouble was coined by civil rights leader and Congressman, the late John Lewis, in reference to peaceful protest to effect change.
“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble,” Lewis said.
