This story was produced in partnership with WKNO-FM public radio.
Throngs of Memphians turned out Saturday for the “No Kings” rally at Highland and Poplar, joining an estimated five million people who gathered in local demonstrations nationwide to protest President Trump’s policies.
They arrived by the hundreds, many with posters, some in inflatable costumes.
Rev. Clay Calhoun said he was protesting the “erosion of democratic norms.”
“(There’s a) consistent pressure of the administration to weaponize the government against any voices of dissent,’’ he said.
As protestors waved signs, chants rang in the air: “No kings! No tyrants! We will not be silenced!”
Many rally-goers like Brittani Lopez showed up to support local immigrant communities.
“(I’m) here for the people who can’t be,” Lopez said. “And my mind immediately goes to Latinos who are too scared to leave their houses right now in Memphis because of the ICE presence, because of all of the tension that’s in the city. I’m here for them.”
Community activist Jose Salazar shared his frustrations about the immigration arrests happening across Memphis neighborhoods.
“I’m standing here,” Salazar said, “with pain in my chest, fire in my heart, and truth on my tongue because I’m tired. I’m tired of watching families be torn apart.”
The first No Kings rally was held June 14. Since then, Trump has sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis. Their presence here brought Navy veteran Ben Reese to the protest.
“I know some of these guys were just told to do what they had to do, and they came out here … but it’s an attack on our democracy,’’ he said. “It’s an overreach from the federal government to our cities.”
On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson called the protests a “stunt” and a “show” that the Democrats used as to distract from the federal government shutdown, which is now in its third week.
