14-06-2025
‘No Kings' protests begin across the Tri-Cities
TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) — 'No Kings' protests are taking place across the Tri-Cities Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration.
Demonstrations have been planned for Abingdon, Kingsport and other localities in the region.
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No Kings Kingsport, organized by Indivisible Tri-Cities and 50501, began with a convoy of decorated cars on Saturday morning in Jonesborough, passing through Johnson City and Bristol, before heading to the Model City.
Attendee and businessman Craig Hoge told News Channel 11 Saturday morning that he and the group don't intend to protest in any way but peacefully.
'We protest a lot of things; most of it's billionaires getting tax breaks, for poor people and middle class getting tax increases, things like that. USAID getting demolished, which kills 100 people a minute. And the U.S. is known for being better than that.'
Hoge said the grassroots organizations coordinating the protests have thought out peace-keeping measures and are promoting safety.
'They have safety people. They have rules. They have bottled water. They make sure everybody is safe, and stays safe, and doesn't respond to anybody. If somebody comes by and shows us their IQ with their middle finger, we act accordingly and don't do anything.'
A food drive is also taking place alongside the demonstration at Memorial Gardens Park in Kingsport, across from Dobyns-Bennet High School. Non-perishable donations are encouraged.
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