Tennessee Man Spat at 'No Kings' Protesters and Brandished Gun: Prosecutors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A counterprotester at the "No Kings" demonstration in Nashville, Tennessee, has been charged with a firearm violation after allegedly brandishing a firearm.
Elijah Millar, 19, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after witnesses at the June 14 protest told law enforcement that he had spat at them and then pulled out a gun.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers arrested him at the protest and took a pistol from him, according to the Justice Department. He was then stopped again by police in his hometown of Murfreesboro, where police took another pistol off him.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee, via email for comment.
Elijah Millar, 19, arrested by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Elijah Millar, 19, arrested by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
Why It Matters
The ability to protest peacefully is a fundamental right in the United States.
The "No Kings" protests on June 14 were the largest nationwide demonstrations against the Trump administration since President Donald Trump took office in January. The vast majority of the 2,000+ demonstrations across the U.S. were peaceful and occurred without incident. Millar was the only person arrested at the Nashville demonstration.
However, one person died from gunfire at a "No Kings" protest in Utah after an armed safety volunteer saw someone with a gun and fired into the crowd, shooting and killing bystander Arthur Folasa Ah Loo.
What To Know
Witnesses at the Nashville demonstration told law enforcement that Millar was dressed in all black and wearing a mask. He then got into an argument with protesters and pointed his firearm at the ground before being apprehended and disarmed by MNPD officers.
According to the Justice Department, he has been under a mental health conservatorship since 2023, finding that he was "at risk of substantial harm to his health, safety, and welfare." This prohibited him from receiving or possessing a firearm. The next year, a judge found him to be a "disabled person needing care," which "significantly [restricted] his access to firearms."
It is unclear from the DOJ filings at this time if his charges stem from his actions at the protest, his possession of a firearm, or both. He was also charged with disorderly conduct by Nashville police.
Elijah Millar being arrested by Metro Nashville Police Department officers at the "No Kings" protest on June 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Elijah Millar being arrested by Metro Nashville Police Department officers at the "No Kings" protest on June 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
George Walker IV/Associated Press
What People Are Saying
Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire, in a press release: "The right to peaceably protest government action is guaranteed by the First Amendment and cannot be infringed upon by armed individuals whose actions put people in danger.
"Our efforts to hold firearm offenders accountable are designed to keep all members of the public safe from potential violence."
What Happens Next
If found guilty, Millar could face up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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