Streets across Kentucky and Tennessee flowed with streams of protesters, Saturday, for the third No Kings protest against President Donald Trump.

Crowds formed rapidly at Circus Square Park in Bowling Green as people from different backgrounds and ages came together. College students, educators and retirees chanted in unison, filling streets with expressions of outrage, disappointment and frustration, while calling for change and accountability in Trump’s Administration in a protest organized by SOKY Indivisible.

Among the crowd, self-described Democratic activist Donna Kessler, 73, described how the current political climate has strained her family relationships. 

“It’s gotta stop, nobody hated each other the way they do now,” Kessler said. “And my sister, I’m so broken-hearted that she won’t even talk to me.” 

Kessler, who has been active in political protests since the 1970s, said the nation has changed dramatically over the decades, moving from spirited debate to what she sees as extreme hostility. She worries about the impact on future generations, particularly her grandchildren, if the country continues on its current path.

“We won’t have a United States if it keeps going like this,” Kessler said.

As the march moved through downtown, chants echoed off the buildings, drawing attention from people in their homes and bystanders. Homemade posters were held high, displaying bold and colorful messages opposing war in Iran, Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and the Trump administration. 

Plum Springs City Commissioner William Compton voiced concern about the nation’s political climate. Compton is running for election to represent Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District and is unsatisfied with the current representative, Brett Guthrie, who has been serving since Compton’s high school years. 

He stressed the importance of civic engagement and local activism as a counterbalance to national turmoil, urging officials to speak out against injustice, defend human rights, and oppose war.

“We need someone who’s going to stand up for the people here and fight back against what’s going on,” Compton said. “It’s so sad to see our representative defending (war) and thinks that our president is doing no wrong when he is clearly breaking the Constitution every single day.”

After the march, protestors returned to Circus Square Park, where they sang, delivered speeches and chanted as passing cars honked in support. 

“Being here means fighting for a better future for everyone no matter their color, sexual orientation and identity,” Jacob Lillagore, 21, said. “Really, it’s just a fight for all the common people who have been stepped on by the current administration.” 

Lexington 

Among the protesters around the four blocks of Lexington’s Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza was Ryan Hamm, a conservative who wants his party to do better. 

His booth featured a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag as part of the Real Republicans Project, an organization advocating for conservatism against Trump’s policies. He said he has attended the past two No King’s Day protests in order to push the Republican party in a better direction. 

“The message that I want to bring to this protest today is that we might all disagree ideologically, but we all are in agreement that we love America, we love the Constitution, we love democracy, and we all think that Donald Trump is a threat to that,” Hamm said. 

Locally organized by the Kentucky Action Coalition, the protest spanned the downtown Lexington area. It connected protesters through speakers, live music and tables of organization, and culminated in a march. 

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the protest was the largest No King’s Day protest Lexington had ever seen. 

Beginning at 1 p.m., crowds of protesters flooded the plaza, interacting with various booths related to the event, showing their opposition to the current administration. 

Rena Wiseman, a member of Gathering for Democracy, helped protesters write down their “dreams for democracy” on colorful streamers, in line with the organization’s motto of “the antidote to despair is action.”

“I hope people realize that if they’re upset about the government, they’re not alone,” Wiseman said. “This gathering today will give (protesters) the energy to take action (after the event) because today is important, but the next step is, what are you going to do on Monday? We want this to motivate people to take action.” 

Throughout the event, speakers from organizations spoke on recent political changes that have affected them. Members of the American Federation of Teachers described the environment of concern over safety in schools among many students and parents in relation to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

They also provided inspiration on how to unite to reach their goals. 

Representing the Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass alongside members from Lexington’s Jewish and Islamic communities, Rev. Leah Schade spoke in hopes of showing the community what they have in common through the administration’s division. 

“We share a commitment to integrity, faith and freedom and the dignity of all people,” Schade said. “I’m hoping (protesters) to be inspired to continue this movement and to fight for their communities and to be good neighbors to the most vulnerable and oppressed among us.” 

Whit Whitaker, president of Fayette County’s NAACP, shared his perspective as an Army veteran on the current administration. 

“We make an oath to the Constitution of the United States and not to any person acting as a monarchy or king,” Whitaker said. “It is important (to) understand that the cost of war is high, and when we unilaterally allow someone to make that decision, (loved ones) end up losing their lives in this battle, and those are things that you can’t get back.” 

Following the speakers, protesters joined together in a mile-long march looping around and shutting down parts of downtown. During the march, protesters held signs and flags to cars and onlookers watching from the sidewalk and in surrounding buildings. 

Michael Huggins, who carried a large American flag during the march, said he joined the protest as a white American male because he finds himself looking around and only seeing those who look like him enjoying the values of justice and fairness he was raised with. 

“The most powerful symbol for me, growing up in an Army family, was this flag,”  Huggins said. “We’ve never lived up to what this flag means, but it’s very precious to me.” 

Motorcyclist Isaiah Zieler said he didn’t originally plan on going to the protest, but was inspired to stop and rev his bike as the protesters returned to the plaza in support. He said that with his bike, he was amazed by the scale of the protest. 

“A lot of people come here to show that we’re all together in this, that we might be small,” Zieler said. “ We might not have the biggest numbers compared to them, but together, we can have a change.”

Louisville

Citizens of Derby City mobilized against the Trump Administration in downtown Louisville. 

The community of Louisville assembled outside Metro Hall on Saturday in protest against the Trump Administration. Protesters addressed concerns tied to the city of Louisville, including police brutality by the Louisville Metro Police Department and the recently dismissed remaining charges against the two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in 2020.

Loud speakers blasting the lyrics of Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” were slowly drowned out by thousands of protesters chanting “the people united will never be divided.”

While voicing their concerns and anger against the Trump administration, organizers looked to build camaraderie in the Louisville community, connecting people with local organizations so that they can continue their activism outside of protests.

“With everything going on, it’s very easy to feel isolated and alone,” said the lead organizer of 50501 Kentucky, Sophie Graf. “There’s something beautiful about coming together with like-minded people who are all here to listen to each other and learn and grow.”

Thousands of people sang along to protest songs led by the organization “Singing Resistance.” After the first handful of songs, protesters took to the streets, while some protesters remained outside Metro Hall to sing more protest songs.

The protesters marched around downtown Louisville before returning to Metro Hall to listen to a handful of speakers, including University of Louisville professor of pan-african studies Ricky Jones. Jones spoke about the University’s institutional neutrality regarding social justice and the importance of education, understanding of history and organization in building a resistance.

“I don’t choose institutional neutrality, I choose you,” Jones said.

Louisville Mayoral candidate Shameka Parrish-Wright, Metro Council district 3, was another standout speaker at the protest. Parrish-Wright emphasized the need of organization to further the movement and to encourage voters to take initiative.

“Solidarity is not just a feeling, it’s action,” Parrish-Wright said.

Shortly after speakers concluded their speeches, organizers allowed protesters to come up to the mic and voice their frustrations with the current political climate of the United States.

One of these protesters was 21-year-old Trey Hoyer, who became active in democratic organizations in January. Hoyer’s grandparents’ stories of Civil Rights Activism inspired him to protest.

“I don’t think I can live with the regret of doing nothing,” Hoyer said. 

Protesters dispersed shortly after the open mic ended, marking the end of the third “No Kings Day” in Louisville, which was one of more than 3000 protests across the globe.

“The core of what makes America, America, comes down to the constitution, and we’re seeing a president who is making decisions that are flying in the face of that,” Graf said.

Nashville

An estimated 6,000 people congregated in downtown Nashville to protest the Trump administration, according to the Nashville Metro Police.

The protest, organized by 28 separate groups, started in Wasioto Park at 10 a.m. Chants and rally songs grew louder as protesters filed into the park near Nissan Stadium. Once 10 a.m. hit, speakers took to the amphitheater stage to share their message.

Jerri Green, a candidate for Tennessee’s governor, spoke on her vision of Tennessee: fewer restrictions on women’s rights, more affordability and access to healthcare. She also pledged to reject money from political action committees, the National Rifle Association and corporate tax, urging protestors to support her campaign.

“We did not found this country to overthrow one king, to have it replaced with another,” Green said.

Green was raised in Memphis, a place of “underdogs,” she said. She responded to comments regarding the hard work it will take to win the race with the fact that she “learned from the best” in Memphis.

“When they tell you that we are underdogs, that this is impossible, what are you going to say?” Green asked.

“Watch us,” protestors responded.

Various professors, organizers and songwriters also spoke prior to the march, calling for action. Rachel Maxann, a Memphis-based songwriter and lead organizer of Singing Resistance Nashville, sang protestors into the march when it started around 11:30 a.m.

Maxan said the protest was a way to get connected with “like-minded people that want to actually make a difference.”

Heather Mae, a Nashville-based songwriter and lead organizer of Singing Resistance Nashville, and Crys Mathews, a Nashville-based songwriter, MC’d the march. They gave orders to chants and rally songs through megaphones for protestors to join in on.

The march through Nashville began in Wasioto Park and then took the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge further into downtown. Once across, the protest marched down 3rd Avenue and across Broadway Street until it reached its end in Public Square Park.

The chant “ain’t no power like the power of the people because the power of the people won’t stop,” swam through downtown Nashville alongside the protestors.

Steve Bell, 68, and Gean Bell, 67, traveled to the protest from Murfreesboro to be “witnesses.” Steve Bell said the country is “going up in flames” and that the average U.S. citizen needs to stand up for what they believe is right. 

“I’ve never in all my life – I’ve never seen anything like this before, and you need to come out,” Steve Bell said.

The couple brought a sign that said “Do it! Impeach Trump (and take Vance with him).” Gean Bell said she’s brought the sign to every “No King’s” protest. Steve Bell also carried an American flag with the number “8647” on the makeshift flagpole. The number is a political slogan opposing the Trump administration. Eighty-six is common slang for removing something and 47 represents Trump being the 47th president.

Leading the line of protestors was the organization TN7 Indivisible Dickson, dressed in handmaid outfits. They held signs that called out the names of high-profile individuals for their behavior. Some names included Donald Trump, Paul Allen and Bill Clinton — among others. Tonya Williams, organizer of TN7 Indivisible Dickson, clarified that the behavior is currently still speculative.

The protestors filled the green of Public Square Park on arrival. Mae and Mathews led chants once more until the crowds dissipated across Nashville. 

United Volunteers of Tennessee provided security for the event. It ensured that the protest complied with law enforcement, kept an eye on any “agitators,” and made sure the protest maintained non-violence. The organization is entirely volunteer-based.