While local media predicted attendance in the thousands for many of the 33 “No Kings” protests scheduled across Tennessee last weekend, actual numbers for several planned events appear to have been lower, with some drawing far fewer attendees than the first round of protests in June of this year.
Much attention was focused on Memphis during Saturday’s protests as the Memphis Safe Task Force has drawn much media scrutiny and national awareness. “No Kings” attendees rallied in opposition to the Trump administration, especially the deployment of the National Guard as part of the Task Force.
Organizers were reportedly anticipating at least 5,000 people, but the Daily Memphian put numbers somewhere between 1,500-2,000.
“The ‘No Kings’ protesters in Memphis were overwhelmingly white, elderly, female, and confused about their pronouns. Organizers were hoping for about 5,000- but the crowd was in the hundreds,” said radio host Todd Starnes. A few counter protesters were present, holding signs with slogans like “Democrats Destroyed Memphis”, and no altercations between sides were reported.
