Trump Offers No Respite for Lifelong US Activist Couple

MILWAUKEE, 2 June 2025 (BSS/AFP) – With a combined age of 180 years, American couple Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger have lost track of how many times they’ve been arrested. Yet, they remain unwavering in their decades-long fight for justice. Having marched in civil rights rallies during the 1960s, they are once again rallying against the perceived authoritarianism of Donald Trump, whose hardline policies have pushed the boundaries of presidential power.

🧓 Still Marching at 92 and 88

At a protest near Milwaukee in late April, 92-year-old Joseph Ellwanger, supported by a walking aid, declared:

“Inaction and silence do not bring about change.”

The protest was held in response to the FBI’s arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan, who allegedly assisted an undocumented immigrant in evading immigration authorities. By Joseph’s side, as always, stood Joyce, 88, holding a placard reading “Hands Off Hannah.”

Despite the apparent challenges of age and exhaustion, the couple is adamant that protest still matters:

“The struggle for justice has always faced pushback and seemed impossible. But change happens,” said Joseph.

📜 A Lifetime of Resistance

Joseph and Joyce have been married for over 60 years and bring a rich history of activism to today’s political climate. Their legacy is both personal and historical:

“You do what you have to do. You don’t let them stop you just because they put up a blockade,” said Joyce defiantly.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Time – The Only Pause

Although their activism keeps them constantly engaged, Sunday evenings are sacred. That’s when Joseph and Joyce switch off and connect with their three adult children over Zoom. Yet, the political climate under Trump’s second term leaves little room for rest.

🚨 Trump’s Agenda: A Call to Action

Trump’s sweeping executive orders—targeting undocumented migrants, foreign students, and student protests—have spurred the Ellwangers to stay active.

Joyce expressed particular concern for younger demonstrators, likening today’s students to those she stood with in the 1960s:

“They’ve been very non-violent, and to me, that’s the most important part.”

🧭 A Role to Play – Even in Their 80s and 90s

Fully aware they may not live to see the results of every struggle, the couple is firm in their belief in legacy:

“We’re standing on the shoulders of people who built the justice movement,” said Joyce. “So, we’ll do our part.”

Their next appearance is planned for 14 June, when they will join the nationwide “No Kings” rally—a symbolic protest against Trump’s perceived authoritarianism.

“More people are taking to the streets,” said Joyce. “We will also be in the street.”

📝 Summary Table