What I Saw at the Revolution: No Kings, March 28, 2026

 

by Rod Williams, March 28, 2026- I almost talked myself out of going to the "No Kings" rally today. I

just wasn't feeling it. I have attended all three previous big anti-Trump rallies that have taken place here in Nashville. The first one was also organized by Indivisible also, but they had not yet adopted the "No Kings" label, and it was called "Hands Off Our Democracy" and was held in Centennial Park at Musicians Corner back in April 2025. I then attended the one on the Bi-Centennial Mall in June 2025, and the most recent one before today's, held on the big hill on the North side of the Capitol in October 2025. 

I don't know why I was not feeling the desire to do today's rally. I guess it is partly been-there-done-that, and maybe a feeling that it is kind of pointless. I am not sure how much impact these really have. When I attended the prior rallies, I felt a passion for showing my displeasure at Trump's authoritarianism, and things are much worse now. When I attended the other three anti-Trump rallies, Trump's paramilitary thugs had not murdered citizens on the streets of our cities yet, and yet my passion to show my displeasure at Trump was greater then than now. Attending those rallies felt cathartic. I didn't feel that need today. I guess I am getting numb or used to what is happening. 

Maybe one reason I almost did not attend is that my family, who are to my left politically, skipped this rally. If those who have always supported liberal causes are not making this a priority, why should I? I did end up attending, however, reasoning that a smaller turnout will send a signal that the public is just accepting Trump's authoritarianism and the wind is out of the sails of the opposition. I attended more out of a sense that I should than a desire or need. 

Before attending my first anti-Trump rally, I was apprehensive about rallying with a bunch of leftists. I feared the vibe would be left-wing with displays of anti-Americanism. It was not. Sure, there were some signs I disagreed with supporting liberal causes, but for the most part, the messaging was pro-democracy and pro-decency. I did not feel terribly out of place.

Today's vibe was much different than the other three events. Upon arriving at the site, a pro-trans chant was taking place. Now, I am pretty tolerant of deviancy as long as it is consensual and doesn't involve children. If Trump's paramilitary force was actually picking up and imprisoning trans people without due process, I might would join the chant, but that is not the case, and I did not plan to attend a pro-trans event.

The next thing that grabbed my attention was a large Communist banner with hammer and sickle. There were also some Democratic Socialists of America banners and Antifa Banners.  Now, I recognize that any mass political movement is going to have some oddballs and fringe people. However, I recall my Tea Party days and other political events I have attended.  If at any of those events, a group would have had a swastika banner, they would have been denounced from the stage and would have been asked to leave. I accept that a mass political movement has to be "big tent," but I don't want to be in a tent big enough for Nazis or Communists. 

The speeches from the stage were not just a renunciation of Trump's authoritarianism and corruption but calls for universal health care and denunciation of income inequality and rich people, and corporations, and other messages that I do not agree with. One of the speeches was a partisan campaign speech by Jerri Green, Democratic Party candidate for Governor. I don't know if the speeches at the other rallies were as partisan liberal as these or not. At the other three rallies, they had terrible sound systems with small speakers, and I really could not hear the speeches. At today's rally, there were nice large speakers and one could hear clearly. It would have been better if I could not have heard the speeches. 

It was impossible for me to judge the size of the crowd. The event was held in the amphitheater bowl in the park formerly known as Cumberland, on the east side of the river between the Korean Veterans Blvd. bridge and the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. The site is not that large and people were not packed in tight, but there were a lot of people gathered on the pedestrian bridge and in the park area outside of the amphitheater. I don't know, but I would estimate the crowd was smaller than the last two rallies. 

I saw several Gadsen flags and I think a Gadsen Flag is appropriate to protest
Trump's authoritarianism. I talked to this couple. They were pretty non-political and
had never before attended a protest. 

After the speeches and group chants ended, the crowd was to march from the park formerly known as Cumberland, across the pedestrian bridge up Third Ave. to the Public Square Park in front of the courthouse. I am unsure if there were to be more rally activity at the end of the march or if the crowd was simply to disband once it reached the courthouse park. 

I thought maybe she was at the wrong protest and was supposed to 
be on lower Broadway, but there was a logic to her sign, but I can't
explain it. 

I almost called it a day, when the march began. I will not want to take part in activity that blocks streets or stops traffic, and I did not know what the plan was. Also, some were chanting "Whose Streets?" - "Our Streets!" I did go however; I joined the tail end of the march so I could abort if they were illegally blocking traffic. As it turns out, they were not taking the streets. The police had the street blocked off to accommodate the marchers. 

I followed the crowd as far as Broadway, then went up Broadway to A.J's, had one beer, listened to two good country songs by the band, then called it a day. I think I may have attended my last "No Kings" rally. 

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