‘No Kings’ protest in Chattanooga to target Trump policies

By Mason Edwards, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Staff photo by Mason Edwards / Judith Pedersen-Benn, 75, attended a Democracy in Action protest in February at the intersection of North Germantown and Brainerd roads. She plans to attend the Saturday's "No Kings" rally in Miller Park.

Chattanooga is among the more than 2,000 U.S. cities where organizers are planning a “No Kings” protest Saturday — the same day as President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and his planned military parade.

(UPDATE: 'No Kings' rally gets underway in Chattanooga)

Chattanooga's protest, organized by Indivisible Chattanooga, is scheduled from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Miller Park.

The day of protests is a response to “increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies,” organizers said in a release announcing the event.

“We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens and defied the courts,” the release said.

Indivisible Chattanooga is part of the larger Indivisible movement, which organized “Hands Off” protests in cities across the county, including one in Chattanooga at Ross’s Landing in April.

Nancy O’Quinn along with Sofia Cowen and John Essex run the local chapter, and in an email, O’Quinn said they receive support from the state and national chapters of Indivisible.

“Believe it or not, we have had a few pardoned Jan. 6 rioters come to our other events,” O’Quinn said. “We were actually notified of this by a sharp national news reporter who reports on hate groups and saw them in our random pics.”

O’Quinn said the group has a safety and security team and does not want people to be overly worried about potential counter protesters or others.

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In a statement, the Chattanooga Police Department voiced support for peaceful protests and encouraged everyone to stay safe and report suspicious or illegal activity.

“An increased number of people is expected in and around Miller Park this weekend,” the statement said. “Officers are on patrol daily throughout the city and will maintain a visible presence during any scheduled, permitted events, responding appropriately to any unlawful activity or violations of permit regulations.”

(READ MORE: What to know about 'No Kings' protests against Trump's policies)

Among those planning to attend is Judith Pedersen-Benn, 75, a regular protester who has participated in national Indivisible rallies and local Democracy in Action events.

At a February protest, Pedersen-Benn stood out — wearing a crown and holding a sign that read: “I AM SOVEREIGN.”

“What I was going for is in a democratic republic, which we struggle to hold onto, the power is held in individual people. Whereas in an authoritarian regime, the power is held by those who are the authoritarians, and that is trying to happen here, I believe,” she said in a phone interview. “So I said, I am sovereign, I am a citizen and I am not subservient, and that goes along with the no kings. I am not subservient to the president or his lackies.”

Pedersen-Benn said she has heard, through word of mouth, that as many as 2,000 people have already registered for Saturday’s rally — though final attendance remains to be seen.

She believes the stakes are higher now than during February’s protests.

“The democratic process is not being followed, especially the rule of law, and it’s about raising awareness,” she said. “And so, we had the Hands Off a few months ago, now we’re having this. It’s interesting that it’s coinciding with all the unrest around immigration. That may make it larger.”

(READ MORE: Angry protesters from New York to Alaska assail Trump and Musk in 'Hands Off!' rallies)

A small group of Republicans, including Elias Griffin, 21, the president and founder of the College Republicans at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, will watch the event from a distance and see what the protesters have to say, Griffin said.

“I think there is a higher chance that it may become violent … it seems like over Chattanooga, especially with the youth, there are a lot of people upset with the administration,” Griffin said in a phone interview.

He felt strongly about Americans having the right to an opinion, to assemble and to free speech, but he added that it’s important the protest stays peaceful. The ongoing protests in Los Angeles and other major cities, he said, serve as examples of what not to do.

(READ MORE: What to know about the protests over Trump's immigration crackdown in Los Angeles)

“Even when some policies affect individuals personally, I still think as Americans, we should remember that we do have the right to protest, we do have to remember why, to spread a message, not to spread chaos,” Griffin said. “That’s what I believe in as a person who is also in the Army.”

Griffin was interested to learn that, according to the rally press release, Chattanooga’s “No Kings” event will include remarks from UTC professor Michelle Deardorff, an expert in constitutional law, civil rights and American history.

“I know that professor very well. We talk a lot. She’s very knowledgeable about politics, and from what I’ve heard, she’s an independent and sees both sides,” Griffin said. “I think it can be inspiring to see a professor that passionate (about) their work.”

Event flyers encouraged participants to dress in colonial-era outfits or come in their normal attire.