NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have spread across the country, Middle Tennessee demonstrators have shifted their focus to President Donald Trump.

As the Army gears up for a major parade in Washington D.C., a national organization with a group in Nashville is pushing back, saying it looks more like a show of force than celebration. They're calling it 'No Kings Day.'

"This is not the America that any of us grew up in," volunteer with Nashville Indivisible, Jennifer Brinkman, said. "I am a native Nashvillian. I am blown away that this is where we are- it’s wrong."

On Saturday, the Army will celebrate its 250th anniversary with a parade in Washington D.C. The event also falls on Trump's birthday, but not everyone is celebrating. Participants with the "No Kings" movement have called the parade a "spectacle made to look like strength."

"This looks more like a military parade that you would see like in North Korea or Iran, China or Russia and it’s costing a lot of money and it seems to be a big distraction," Brinkman expressed.

Jennifer Brinkman, a volunteer coordinators for the Nashville 'No Kings' demonstration told News 2 that distraction pulls attention from what she calls urgent issues like immigration enforcement, civil rights concerns and cut to public programs.  

"The cuts to Medicaid and then the trade off is give ultra wealthy more tax cuts," Brinkman said.

In May, Nashville was the center of a joint ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol operation which led to the arrest of 196 undocumented immigrants, according to ICE.

Brinkman told News 2 tactics used during those arrests raise major red flags.

"Deporting people without due process that is not American," Brinkman expressed. "ICE agents that we don’t even know if they are ICE agents, I mean literally they are not wearing the same uniforms. They don’t have their names on their vest. They are not being held to any kind of accountability."

As cities like Los Angeles enact curfews amid ICE protest tensions, Brinkman said over 2,000 Nashvillians are already registered to gather with the focus on keeping things peaceful with designated peace keepers.

"Stay with the group, chant together, support one another," Brinkman said. "Also we ask our participants that are showing up to document don’t confront. If something concerning happens quietly take a photo or a video and alert your organizers or your peacekeepers."

Organizers say they are working with the Metro Nashville Police Department and State Park Rangers.

"The biggest tip is do not escalate," Brinkman said. "So we tell them no matter what others say or do not respond with anger, threats or physical actions, escalation undermines our message and puts others at risk."

Brinkman encouraged people to register online and show up at Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park with signs and a shared message:

"This is not a monarchy. We have a say in this. We are raising our voices please listen to the voices that are being raised. These are your constituents."

MNPD said they're aware of this weekend's gathering and support the right to peaceful demonstration. THP said they are prepared to assist as needed. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will help manage traffic.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/this-is-not-a-monarchy-nashville-protest-targets-trump-military-parade/