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NASHVILLE – Thousands of Tennesseans are expected to turn out at “No Kings” rallies taking place in small towns and major urban hubs across the Volunteer State Saturday to push back against the Trump administration’s increasing consolidation of executive power and its economic, military and immigration policies in a coordinated nationwide day of protest.

The Tennessee protests, taking place in dozens of cities across the state, are among an estimated 3100 No Kings events planned nationwide, according to organizers. “Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people – not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies,” the event’s official website said.

Nashville

Several thousand gathered in downtown Nashville, marched across the city’s pedestrian bridge past Broadway, Nashville’s strip Honky Tonk bars, then ending at the city’s courthouse.

Mark Smith, a 67-year-old retired teacher from Nashville, showed up in a “fascism never sleeps” t-shirt, saying there wasn’t one thing that brought him out, but that “everything” is going in the wrong direction.

“It seems like the speed with which things are going downhill is only picking up,” Smith said.

Signs at the rally included opposition to immigration enforcement, references to the Jeffrey Epstein files and calling on Americans to wake up and resist.

Gigi Page, a Clarksville native, held two signs, one calling for no kings and the second referencing impeachment in the Constitution.

“This administration is flagrantly corrupt,” Page said. “What Trump has been doing is destroying every facet of this country.”

As the crowd congregated, two large, low-flying military helicopters flew over the gathering then doubled back again.

Jackson

More than 200 people lined the road in front of the Madison County courthouse Saturday afternoon, waving American flags and showing off their signs to passing cars, including anti-war and anti-tariff signs. Many drivers honked their horns or rolled down their windows to cheer in support.

Indivisible Jackson organizer Cindy Boyles said previous No Kings rallies have seen as many as 600 participants, including residents from surrounding smaller West Tennessee towns.

Now, Boyles said, more of those towns are hosting their own No Kings events. Bolivar, the county seat in Hardeman County, is holding its first rally Saturday.

Indivisible Jackson formed in 2017, and Boyles said the diversity of people attending protests has grown during Trump’s second term. Early demonstrations attracted mostly older participants. On Saturday, attendees spanned all ages.

“It’s empowering to be here and to see that Jackson is not the deep, deep red that people think it is,” Boyles said. “And I think also there’s just a lot of people that disagree with what he’s doing, and that just brings people out too.”

Chattanooga

This story will be updated.

Contributing: Adam Friedman, Sam Stockard, Cassandra Stephenson, Holly McCall and Anita Wadhwani.