With less than a month until the November midterm elections, No Kings protests are ramping up across Tennessee and across the country.
Launched in 2025, the No Kings movement has organized nationwide demonstrations against President Donald Trump's administration. The first protests were held June 14, 2025, on Trump's 79th birthday.
The nationwide movement, which opposes what organizers described as authoritarianism and an expansion of executive power under Trump, is planning another round of demonstrations in October. The events will focus on voting rights, voter participation and voter turnout ahead of Election Day.
"Events range from neighborhood block parties and cookouts, to group walks to the polls, voter-planning drives, and local election
defense workshops where early voting is not underway," wrote the group in a news release.
According to the No Kings organization, the October demonstrations are the next step in "reclaiming our power" following a year of mass mobilizations.
What is the 'No Kings' movement?
"No Kings" is a nationwide protest movement opposing Trump and what organizers describe as authoritarian actions by his administration.
Organizers cite concerns about presidential overreach, immigration policies and ICE actions, the deployment of federal forces to cities, and healthcare, environmental, and education issues as motivations for the protests. The name is meant to evoke the principle that the United States is a democracy with no monarchs, and no leaders are above the law.
The protests emphasize people‑powered, nonviolent resistance.
The most recent major "No Kings" demonstration took place on March 28, 2026, when thousands of events were held across the country.
In Tennessee, over 40 protests were scheduled, including events in Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, Franklin, Columbia, Clarksville, Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Sevierville, as well as dozens of others across the state.
When are the 'No Kings' protests taking place?
The next "No Kings" protests are scheduled for Oct. 17, 2026.
'No Kings' protests planned in Tennessee
Here's a look at all of the "No Kings" protests planned across Tennessee.
West Tennessee
- Memphis: No Kings: Vote Early, Party to the Polls with Indivisible Memphis! (4223 Macon Road, 1 to 3 p.m. CT)
Middle Tennessee
- Nashville: No Kings: Vote Early Bellevue (Red Caboose Park of Bellevue, Highway 70 S., 10 a.m. to noon CT)
- Franklin: No Kings: Vote Early Franklin (private address, noon to 2 p.m. CT)
- Columbia: No Kings: Vote Early IndivisibleTN5 Columbia (West Sixth St. and North Garden St., 10 a.m. to noon CT)
East Tennessee
- Crossville: No Kings: Vote Early Crossville (2 North Main St., 10 a.m. to noon CT)
- Pikeville: No Kings: Vote Early Pikeville (Bledsoe County Courthouse 3150 Main St., 9 to 11a.m. CT)
- Cleveland: No Kings: Vote Early Cleveland (Johnston Park corner of Inman and Ocoee, 2 to 4 p.m. ET)
- Tellico Plains: No Kings: Vote Early Tellico Plains (Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center 225 Cherohala Skyway, 1 to 3 pm. ET)
- Madisonville: No Kings: Vote Early - Madisonville (4525 US-411, 10:30 a.m. to noon ET)
- Lenoir City: No Kings: Vote Early, Lenoir City (Roane State Community College 100 W Broadway Suite 131, 9 a.m. to noon ET)
- Blount County: No Kings: Vote Early Blount County (508 N. Cusick St., from 10 a.m. to noon ET)
- Sevierville: No Kings: Vote Early Rally, Sevierville (private address, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET)
- Oak Ridge: No Kings: Vote Early Oak Ridge (102 Robertsville Road, 10 a.m. to noon ET)
- Knoxville: No Kings Vols To The Polls: Chalk The Vote Knoxville (Holston River Park, 3300 Holston Hills Road, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET)
What are your rights when protesting?
The First Amendment protects your right to protest. This includes freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government. Some limited restrictions are allowed for public safety.
- You may record in public: If you're in a public space, you can photograph and record video of anything in plain view, including police, federal buildings, and other protesters. Audio recording rules depend on state law. Most states use one‑party consent; a few require two‑party consent. Tennessee is a one‑party consent state. These protections do not apply on private property, where owners can set their own rules.
- Flag burning is protected speech: The Supreme Court has ruled that burning the American flag is a form of protected expression under the First Amendment.
- Police cannot take your phone without a warrant: They cannot confiscate your device or demand to review your footage unless they have a search warrant. They may ask you to stop recording only if you’re truly interfering with safety or police work.
- Stay calm if confronted by police: If officers appear to violate your rights, do not resist or argue. Instead, calmly assert your rights and ask whether you are free to leave. If you are free to go, leave immediately. If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer right away and do not speak or sign anything until your attorney is present.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: More 'No Kings' protests planned in Tennessee ahead of midterm elections. See new locations
