‘Good Trouble Lives On' and ‘Free America Weekend' protests head to Alabama in July
Here's what to know about the protests and how you can participate.
Free America Weekend Protest in Alabama
Free America Weekend, a grassroots event organized by the Women's March will blend the Independence Day celebration with a call to protect democracy and freedom for all, taking place on July 4.
From block parties and marches to backyard gatherings and art projects, participants nationwide will come together to express joyful resistance against political division and threats to civil rights. The event encourages locals to celebrate freedom while standing up for freeing America from the grips of the wealthy rigging the system, poverty, unfair job firings and a rising tide of hate and fear politics.
Here's where you can participate in the Free America Weekend events in Alabama:
Montgomery: Food & School Supply Drive, July 4, 10 a.m. to Noon, The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court Street, Montgomery.
Gadsden: Moragne Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 100 Moragne Avenue, Gadsden. Fireworks will follow at 9 p.m., and food vendors will be located along 411.
The Good Trouble Lives On Protest in Alabama
On July 17, a nationwide day of nonviolent protest will take place to honor the legacy of Georgia Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who was born in Troy, Ala. The protest builds on earlier demonstrations held nationwide this summer in response to policies under the Trump administration.
The movement, called Good Trouble Lives On, is set to take place in cities across the U.S., including several in Alabama, and marks the fifth anniversary of Lewis' death. Organizers say the goal is to push back against efforts they view as threats to voting rights, justice and dignity.
Here's where you can attend a Good Trouble Lives On event:
Birmingham: Horton Enterprise Studio, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., 1111 5th Ave N., Birmingham
Center Point: Center Point Senior Center, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 335 Polly Reed Rd NE, Center Point
Mobile: Protests are planned in Mobile from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., but there is no current meeting point.
This story was updated to correct a typo.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Are 'Good Trouble' and 'Free America' protests happening in Alabama?
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Four-star general, former MDA official ‘unanimously confirmed' to lead Golden Dome project
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) — The Senate unanimously confirmed a former Redstone Arsenal Missile Defense Agency official to lead the project. The Senate confirmed General Michael A. Guetlein to lead the Department of Defense's Golden Dome project on Friday. In June 2025, the Congressional Golden Dome Caucus was established. It came after an Executive Order from President Donald Trump directing the implementation of a 'next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.' Limestone County Coroner asking public to identify man killed Sunday morning Gen. Guetlein is no stranger to North Alabama, as he previously served as the Program Executive for Programs and Integration at MDA on Redstone Arsenal from April 2017 to June 2019. Congressional Golden Dome Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Representatives Dale Strong and Jeff Crank released statements about Gen. Guetlein's confirmation. 'President Trump's decision to have General Guetlein serve as the Golden Dome Czar is a strategic move to strengthen our national defense at a critical time. I applaud the Senate for swiftly taking up his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to defend our homeland and advance the Golden Dome's mission to keep Americans safe.' Representative Dale Strong 'Congratulations to General Guetlein on his confirmation. I am confident that under his leadership, President Trump's vision to innovate our homeland missile defense through Golden Dome will soon become a reality – creating a strong deterrence against our adversaries. I look forward to working with General Guetlein to ensure Congress is providing as much support as possible for this essential program.' Representative Jeff Crank The United States Space Force website says Gen. Guetlein was previously the Vice Chief of Space Operations for the agency. Milo's Tea Company announces production pause to provide clean drinking water to Texas disaster relief To start his career, which has been a decorated one, Gen. Guetlein was commissioned through the ROTC program at Oklahoma State University back in 1991. Through September 1993, he worked as an AC-130U Gunship Support Manager in the Special Operations Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. You can view his list of assignments below: October 1993–August 1994, Chief, B-2 Bomber Propulsion, B-2 Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio August 1994–January 1996, Executive Officer, Engineering Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio January 1996–July 1996, AC-130U Gunship Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. July 1996–July 1997, AC-130H Gunship Flight Commander, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. July 1997–June 1999, Air Force Intern, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. June 1999–March 2002, Deputy Program Manager, Space-Based Infrared System Ground Segment, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. March 2002–March 2003, Director, Missile Warning Systems, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. March 2003–June 2004, Executive Officer, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. June 2004–June 2005, Student, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.11. June 2005–December 2006, Counterspace Program Element Monitor, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. December 2006–June 2008, Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. June 2008–July 2010, Commander, Rapid Reaction Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo. July 2010–June 2011, Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow, Space Exploration Enterprises, Los Angeles, Calif. June 2011–August 2014, Senior Materiel Leader, Space-Based Infrared System Production Division, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. September 2014–April 2017, Program Director, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. April 2017–June 2019, Program Executive for Programs and Integration, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. July 2019–July 2021, Deputy Director and Air Force Element Commander, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. August 2021–December 2023, Commander, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. December 2023–present, Vice Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Arlington, Va. Gen. Guetlein became a one-star general on July 22, 2016, a two-star general on September 24, 2019, a three-star general on August 13, 2021, and finally, became a four-star general on December 21, 2023. Some of his major awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Defense Superior Service Medal, among other awards. Latest Headlines Polls show approval rating for President Trump after six months in office Decatur police chief implements leadership classes for officers Retired Madison County sheriff's deputy making difference to keep 'these babies off the street' Epstein furor upends House for second week in row Senate GOP faces tough call over Trump's demand to cancel recess The Hill wrote that President Trump's inspiration for the Golden Dome stems from Israel's Iron Dome, a system the small country uses to shoot down short-range rockets and artillery fired from up to 43 miles away. 'We don't have a dome ourselves. We're going to have the greatest dome ever,' Trump said in December 2023 while on the campaign trail, later saying he would 'build an Iron Dome over our country.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How SNAP benefits may be affected by President Trump's ‘big beautiful bill'
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Millions of people each year rely on supplemental nutrition assistance, also known as SNAP benefits, to feed themselves and their families. Although many are raising the question of how these benefits will change with President Trump's new federal budget bill. Four-star general, former MDA official 'unanimously confirmed' to lead Golden Dome project 'We hear that a lot of people are pretty panicked,' said Carol Gundlach. 'They think they're going to lose their snap benefits.' Gundlach is a senior policy analyst with Alabama Arise. They are a nonprofit that advocates on poverty-related issues. 'For the first time in history, the federal government is asking the states, or telling the states more accurately, that the states have to pay for some SNAP assistance,' she said. She said Alabama Arise anticipates the change will cost taxpayers in Alabama millions of dollars. 'These are folks who are already struggling, so where are we going to come up with the money to feed these families?' she said. Gundlach said they anticipate work requirements will increase and some will lose access to benefits as a direct response to this. 'We're increasing the paperwork for people with children,' she said. 'We're increasing the paperwork for the state, and we're increasing paperwork for senior citizens, all for no particularly good reason other than to drive people off the program.'Brandon Hardin is the Director of Food Assistance for Alabama within the Department of Human Resources. He said they also anticipate increased costs to the state. 'They'll be significant cost to the state,' Hardin said. 'We actually are waiting on those regulations to come down to see what they are, but we refer to any kind of budget considerations to our state legislative budget chairs.' Although the new changes will not go into effect for a few years, DHR is encouraging you to continue applying for the assistance you need. 'We just encourage individuals if they think they are eligible to apply, and we'll work with them on any of these new requirements,' he said. 'We actually just ask them to pay attention to legislation that might affect them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Polls show approval rating for President Trump after six months in office
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Sunday marked six months since President Donald Trump took office, and a new CBS News poll reveals the president's approval rating is dropping. From tariffs to deportation, actions taken by the Trump Administration since January 20 of this year have widened the divide between American voters. How SNAP benefits may be affected by President Trump's 'big beautiful bill' 'I think President Trump and this administration have returned the government to common sense,' Huntsville-based, Former Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Jay Town said. 'I think the last six months have been chaotic. I think they have been traumatic,' News 19 Political Analyst David Person said. The poll shows that Trump's approval rating has dropped by 11% since February. Policy-specific polls reveal where some of that disapproval stems from. Both sides of the aisle find that voters have more issues with policy execution as opposed to the policy itself at face value.'Even people that may agree with some of his policies in principle are disturbed by the attitudes and approaches with which these policies have been executed,' Person said. 'The American people, actually, they might not agree with the tactics they're seeing on TV, but they agree with the results,' Town said. 'And the results are what are going to matter during these midterm elections.' With midterms over a year away, Town does not think the polls will impact the elections. Person believes these polls may be an indicator of American voters changing their minds. 'That's what the American people voted for when they voted for President Trump in 2024,' Town said. 'Just maybe, that's the wake-up call, the cold, hard splash of water they need to make a different choice,' Person said. President Trump's approval rating has been steadily declining since he took office, prompting pollsters to wonder whether it is a change in public opinion or a reaction to his current policies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.