Streets of downtown Knoxville were flooded with hundreds of people ‒ and drivers honking in support ‒ as part of the nationwide Hands Off rally to protest President Donald Trump’s policies.
Even in decidedly conservative Knox County, where Trump was elected with 59% of the vote in 2024, voters’ participation in the demonstration was strong. Chants and cheers of demonstrators on the afternoon of April 5 were unavoidable to drivers entering downtown via Summit Hill Drive or Henley Street. Demonstrators lined both sides of the street for blocks, carrying signs and American flags.
“People are waking up,” 21-year-old Lily Dover told Knox News. “I’m happy to have people in my who support (what I believe in) and try to help people.”
The lifelong Knoxvillian attended the protest with her mother, and both said they had never seen anything like the rally.
Indivisible Knoxville, an organizer of the local event, hundreds of thousands of people participated in over 1,000 demonstrations in all 50 states. Washington, D.C., and New York City has especially huge protests.
Demonstrators had an array of reasons why they participated and signs protested Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts, warned against Medicare and Social Security cuts and supported the Public Broadcasting Service. Each person cited the same thing: They were impressed with the large turnout.
Demonstrators lobbed criticism at Knoxville’s Republican congressional representatives, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, all of whom have supported Trump and Musk.
“I’m excited that there’s this many people who feel the same way I do,” Patrick Hundley, 77, told Knox News. “Our congressman is a coward. He should be standing up to some of Trump’s (actions).”
The “Hands Off” demonstration stands in contrast to an event held blocks away on March 14 at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk drew hundreds of students and community members to a public debate. Supportive audience members heckled those who disagreed with Kirk, and celebrated the event as a show of support for Trump on campus.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Hands Off protest in Knoxville draws hundreds to send message to Trump