Empowering Sumner County: June 14th Gallatin NO KINGS Rally

Photo by Jalah Nelson

If you are looking for a way to start bringing change and protecting democracy within your own county, you are in the right spot. Indivisible Sumner is off to a great start, with several community actions under our belt. Our latest victory was a turn out of over 500 people at our NO KINGS Protest in Gallatin, TN on June 14th. Sumner county folks showed up and demonstrated that we are ready to use our voices to stand up for our country AND our county.

Photo by Jalah Nelson

Sumner Indivisible organizers began planning Gallatin's No Kings protest in mid-May, starting with obtaining a permit and notifying local law enforcement. They understood the importance of showing their Sumner County neighbors and elected officials the diverse, inclusive, and progressive side of this community. "We moved here for better school systems 6 years ago. We didn't know we were moving to a hotbed of Constitutional Republicans. Sometimes it feels like we live on the brim of a MAGA hat." said organizer Mandy Cook. "It can be scary to be your authentic self here, and by showing up on No Kings Day, we are fighting that fear together."

All planning was going relatively seamlessly, until the weekend before the protest. Tensions rose in LA after aggressive ICE kidnappings in Westlake, Paramount, and the Fashion District. When the people of Los Angeles started fighting to protect their communities, the president federalized the California National Guard and eventually deployed Marines against Americans on their own soil. Algorithms showed one of two stories, depending on your typical content diet:

A) a montage of excessive force and police brutality against people exercising their first amendment rights

or

B) a "liberal hellscape" of violent protestors and looting

News outlets overwhelmingly only showed the latter.

In light of the events in LA, the Gallatin No Kings event started to stir up a frenzy on local social media pages. An investigator showed up at the home of one of the organizers. The county sheriff and mayor posted incendiary warnings on their Facebook pages. They left the comments on, in what seemed like an attempt to invite violence and counter-protestors. They would not listen to common sense and tone down the rhetoric or disable comments, despite multiple calls from organizers to try to persuade them to do so. Friday night before the rally, Sumner County Democratic Chair Megan Lange drove by the location to find the majority of the area barricaded by the county.

Video taken by Megan Lange of the SCDP: barricades placed by the county at the permitted location less than 24 hours before the event

Despite their attempts to sow chaos, the NO KINGS rally was a huge success.

Facebook post from organizer Mandy Cook

Pivoting, speakers and attendees gathered on the right side of the building closest to the public library. It made for an even more impactful and personal experience for our community. A wall of people with No Kings signs lined Main Street facing out, insulating the rest of the crowd from MAGA counter-protestors across the street.

Photo by Jordan Ring of Jr2 photograph

Speakers represented a diverse patchwork of the community: clergy members, trans youth, immigrant rights advocates, educators, veterans, reproductive rights organizers, and library defenders. "I am so proud of this event- I don't think I've ever heard so many amazing speakers in one place." said organizer Hilary Lounder. Chants filled the space between speeches, many started organically by the crowd.

Interfaith Minister Deb Moore (photo cred Jalah Nelson)

The sentiment was clear: we are not bending the knee to fascism, racism, and exclusion. Sumner County includes a strong army of people who are ready to rise up. To save what we love and change what we don't. No kings are welcome here.

Sumner Indivisible Organizers Mandy Cook (Left) and Hilary Lounder (Right) photo credit Jordan Ring of jr2 photographs