14-06-2025
Several hundred protest in Oak Ridge Saturday on "No Kings" Day of Action
A mostly jovial group of several hundred people demonstrated in the heart of Oak Ridge on Saturday, with all but about 20 of them protesting against President Donald Trump - who celebrated his 79th birthday that same day - and his policies.
On one side of the Oak Ridge Turnpike were the demonstrators organized by the Anderson County Democratic Party. Party Chairman Chase Lindsey had said the Democratic parties in Roane and Morgan counties had been invited, as well as Third Act Tennessee, the Norris Area Indivisible group and the Indivisible RAM (Roane, Anderson and Morgan counties). Their demonstrators were on the side of the turnpike near the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Oak Ridge High School. It was labeled the "Kick Out the Clowns" demonstration.
On the other side were demonstrators organized by Lena Elizer for the "No Kings" Day of Action. They were centered on the side of the turnpike near the Oak Ridge Public Library and the Recreation Center and parking lot. Elizer said she was not connected to the group Indivisible, which had partnered with dozens of advocacy groups for the "No Kings" Day of Action demonstrations across the nation.
A small group of about 20 demonstrators were located on the same side as the "No Kings" protesters, but in front of the library parking lot. One demonstrator said they were there to celebrate Flag Day and to support their country. Many pro-Trump signs were stuck in the ground in front of the sidewalk where the stood.
Anderson County Republican Party Chairman Zach Farrar told The Oak Ridger on Friday that he knew some people were going to demonstrate to mark Flag Day. However, he said the local Republican Party did not plan a counterprotest, as rumored, to those protesting the president and his policies.
No matter which side they stood on - literally or figuratively - there were many American flags being waved and almost all involved were friendly and seemed to be having a good time. The drivers of cars and trunks driving through were honking their horns in support, with only a few displaying or shouting obscene objections.
On the "No Kings" side, occasional cheers of "Hey, hey; ho, ho; Donald Trump has got to go" could be heard.
Tennessee Highway Patrol aided the Oak Ridge police with traffic and demonstrator control. A city spokesperson said the Oak Ridge Police Department was aware of the protests ahead of time and extra Oak Ridge officers were working Saturday.
The demonstrations were supposed to end at 2 p.m., but apparently went over that deadline. The city of Oak Ridge posted to its social media pages around 3 p.m. Saturday that the protests were over.
The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@ and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.
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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Several hundred protest in Oak Ridge Saturday on "No Kings" Day of Action
