Protesters gathered in front of City Hall today to condemn President Donald Trump and his administration, Elon Musk, and the country’s political climate. The protest was organized by an activist group called “901 Memphis Area Indivisible.”
“We are protesting the loss of our democracy and are part of a national movement to stop the destruction by Trump and his gang of vandals,” Tony Cernosek, a member of the group, said in a statement. “This effort must and will succeed or millions of citizens will suffer terrible hardship — mostly the poor and marginalized.”.
Activists carried signs while chanting things such as, “Donald Trump’s a Nazi,” “This is what democracy looks like,” and “Deport Musk.”After circling around Memphis City Hall, protestors continued to march downtown.
Patty Crawford said as someone who has lived in the South for most of her life, she’s become used to “this mess,” but said “it’s never been this bad.”
“There’s really no issue Musk and Trump have not had their finger on in the last month,” Crawford said. “They are destroying funding for all kinds of social programs. The first thing they went after is U.S. aid, so people are dying overseas because there’s not enough food to eat.”
Crawford added that the current administration is against LGBTQ+ rights, and openly condemned Trump’s increased focus on deportations. Another participant, Bill Stegall, added that the administration is also working to eradicate important resources.
“They’re not carefully making sure these programs are working,” Stegall said. “They’re simply doing a word search, and anything that says poor, underserved, impoverished, or African American, they’re just shutting that down. They’re just shutting down help for people who need it.”
Stegall said he and others gathered today to get connected to commemorate the beginning of a “very large movement” that will “culminate in the next vote.”
“Your silence will not protect you at this point,” Crawford said. “You can stay at home and think you’re safe, but you’re not safe.”
Sue Lynn is a retired teacher who said she’s concerned about too many things to mention.
“I’m just totally upset, disgusted, and reviled by what’s going on in Washington and the people who are supposed to be leading us,” Lynn said.
Lynn said she was there for her students — whom she referred to as “our saving grace.”
“I have only a limited amount of time left on this earth, but they’re going to take over and by golly they’re going to do it,” Lynn said.
Adults were not the only group of people protesting. Nine-year-old James Wofford and his mother Callie Bugg were there to show their opposition to what’s going on in America.
“We’re here to be heard [and] to be a part of the voice that says no,” Bugg said.
Bugg said she hopes the voices that say “no” are further amplified by today’s movement.
“I hope this is the start of a lot of people standing up.”
Wofford added that he’s looking forward to his 13th birthday when “Trump is not our president.”
