KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

Residents of both Manchester and Tullahoma gathered to the sidewalks to and made their voices heard as part of the second nationwide “No Kings” protests this past Saturday.

The “No Kings” protests took place on Saturday, Oct. 18, where millions of Americans across the country gathered in protest to the Trump Administration’s policies. According to the organizers of the protests, nearly 7 million turned to more than 2,700 events across the country. In Tennessee, per nonprofit organization Indivisible Tennessee, there were 35 cities that had a total of over 43,000 protesters combined. These cities included Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville, Murfreesboro, Pulaski, Winchester, Manchester and Tullahoma. Locally, the turnout for both protests in Manchester and Tullahoma were 100 and 150, respectively, according to Indivisible Tennessee.

The protest was coordinated by the Coffee County Democratic Party (CCDP), but, unlike previous protests, the CCPD held a protest in Manchester Saturday morning at the intersection of Highway 55 and Highway 41, in front of Walgreens, and held a protest in Tullahoma in the afternoon on the sidewalk in front of Tullahoma High School.  According to CCDP Chairman Mike Stein, they haven’t held a protest in Manchester before and wanted to give it a try. He added that the group was pleased with the outpouring support from not just those on the sidewalks, but those driving by honking their horns and giving thumbs up, as well as the growing turnout.

“Every time we do one of these, we go to see more people here at the protests and it just goes to show that there are more Democrats in Coffee County than people realize,” Stein said. “It’s time to stop hiding in the shadows and start being out in front, standing up for your beliefs and standing up for this country, because we are losing it very quickly.”

The protest also saw a few speakers addressing the protesters, including members of the CCDP and Victoria Broadrick, who is running for the seat of Tennessee’s 4th congressional district in the House of Representatives, currently held by Scott DeJarslais.

Though there were passersby who gave their support, there were others who shared the opposite reaction, where instead of honks and thumbs up it was revving their engines loudly as they drove by, while shouting and giving the middle finger. There was an isolated incident at the Manchester protest where someone threw drinks at the protestors as they drove by, while there were a few who took the time to drive by a few times displaying their support for President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, just as Manchester residents made their way to the main intersection to go about their days, they more likely saw a few people doing their own counter protest. One of the counter protesters was Rick Kapp, a military veteran who served for 27 and half years, said he served to protect the rights of the First Amendment, and he wanted to express his right to voice his opinion as well.

“I wanted people to also have Coffee County’s patriots stand up,” Kapp said.

Not that far from Kapp was Donna Wilkie, who was stationed towards the bridge work over Little Duck River with her sign that said “Caution Sore Losers Ahead.” She said she had passersby ask what was going on, as well as receiving her fair share of thumbs up, honks and middle fingers.

“That’s okay, that’s freedom of speech,” Wilkie said.

For Stein, he said he was glad that the counter protesters took time out of their day to counter protest them, as long as it was peaceful.

“They have the right to stand on a sidewalk as much as we do, more power to them,” Stein said.

The next event for CCDP will be its pancake breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 8, where the proceeds will go towards the Coffee County Humane Society.