Over 30 “No Kings” Protests Scheduled Across Tennessee On October 18th

Image Credit: nokings.org

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

After varied turnouts earlier in the summer, a new batch of “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again agenda are scheduled for this Saturday, October 18, with over 30 events planned across Tennessee.

In June, approximately 24 of these events were scheduled throughout the state as the “No Kings” organization called people to a “nationwide day of defiance”. Overall attendance was mixed with Knoxville outperforming estimates while Nashville, which was originally anticipated to draw the highest number of attendees, fell short of expectations.

Now, in what some activists are dubbing “No Kings 2.0”, the organization is claiming that on “October 18, millions of us are rising again to show the world: America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.” 

“In June we did what many claimed was impossible: peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has No Kings. Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and bigger.”

The first round of protests did remain largely peaceful in Tennessee, with only one notable arrest where counter protester Elijah Miller was detained for hostilely engaging with participants and brandishing a handgun. Miller was later federally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm when it was discovered he was in violation of a conservatorship.

For the upcoming protests on Saturday, 33 Tennessee cities are listed as hosting an event including Chattanooga, Clarksville, Gallatin, Kingston, Knoxville, Maryville, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Sevierville, Tellico Plains, Tullahoma, and Union City.

Nationally, over 2,200 protests are scheduled with one set for Washington D.C. in front of the Capitol building, which did not occur in June as the parade celebrating the 250^th birthday of the Army was taking place the same day in the capitol city. Most major U.S. cities are set to participate, and some international towns are also supposedly planning to join in, with the “No Kings” website showing some protests planned in Canada and even as far south as Panama.

The protestors apparently plan to make the Democrat-driven government shutdown a focal point of Saturday’s events, as barbs have been traded between the “No Kings” organization and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. 

In a Fox News interview last Friday, Johnson said, “They have a ‘Hate America’ rally that’s scheduled for October 18^th on the National Mall. It’s all the pro-Hamas wing and the ANTIFA people, they’re all coming out. Some of the House Democrats are selling t-shirts for the event and it’s being told to us that they won’t be able to reopen the government until after that rally, that they can’t face their rabid base. This is serious business hurting real people. I’m beyond words, I can’t believe they’re actually doing this.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also commented on the protests, saying they are, “Really frustrating. This is part of ANTIFA, paid protesters, begs the question who’s funding it?”

In response, “No Kings” posted on their site, “Speaker Johnson is running out of excuses for keeping the government shut down. Instead of reopening the government, preserving affordable healthcare, or lowering costs for working families, he’s attacking millions of Americans who are peacefully coming together to say that America belongs to its people, not to kings. We’ll see everyone on October 18.”

And the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is urging federal employee members to participate in the protests over the Trump administration’s decision to use the shutdown as an opportunity to downsize or cut several federal agencies, departments, and programs.

“The protest movement has taken on a new urgency with the government shutdown that began Oct. 1,” AFGE stated. “Shutting down the government is another authoritarian power grab by this administration, which has threatened to lay off mass numbers of furloughed federal workers as part of an ongoing quest to gut federal programs and services the administration finds objectionable.”

The AFGE represents more than 820,000 workers across more than 900 local unions in almost every federal agency and in the government.

Though there have been no official announcements yet, it is likely law enforcement departments are taking similar steps and precautions to those from the June protests.

With the Memphis Safe Task Force in full swing in the city, it is to be seen what roles the numerous federal agencies in the area might play or the effects they will have, if any.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.