On Saturday April 5, at simultaneous events across the United States, tens of thousands gathered at more than 1,200 locations to oppose the policies of President Donald Trump, Project 2025 and the actions of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
The Nashville event was held at the city’s iconic Centennial Park with its replica of the Parthenon and was attended by a wide variety of participants decked out in attire across a spectrum from Gothic to button down.
(BNG photo by Brad Bull)
Hands Off!, the national event organizer, reported an advanced registration of 3,000 at the Music City event. The attendance appeared closer to 1,500 to 2,000 at the outdoor event. An overlapping indoor event with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren filled a nearby high school gymnasium. Attendance at the outdoor event likely was negatively impacted by an email to registrants saying the event was canceled due to flooding. A follow-up email clarified that the rally — ostensibly referencing organized speakers — was canceled but protesters would still gather.
The website of Hands Off! stresses nonviolent action as a core principle. The registration page had multiple resources for how to deescalate conflict with potential counter-protesters. Other than one or two signs with images of guillotines and one that said, “I’m liberal and I’m armed,” the air of the event ranged from common dissenting chants to a singing of Pete Seeger’s “This Land is Your Land.”
(BNG photo by Brad Bull)
Neal, age 80, was dressed in a shirt reminiscent of a German concentration camp detainee uniform and with a star of David inscribed with “Jude” — the manner Jews were identified in Nazi Germany. He said his grandparents on both sides were Russian Jews who immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. He said he grew up in the same Philadelphia suburb where Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, graduated from high school, but they went to different schools.
Neal said he had not been to a protest since the 1960s and enjoined this one because of his sadness over what he sees as a lack of empathy in contemporary America. Asked “What else?” he said, “The country has been taken over by oligarchs.” He also has multiple family members who are gay and calls himself an ally of the LGBTQ community.
Corey, age 37, held a sign saying to build a wall to separate church and state. He grew up in a small Tennessee town, in a Methodist congregation, before moving to a nondenominational church. Eventually he asked himself, “Do I really believe all this stuff, or do I just like the music and thoughtful tropes, or am I just trying to live up to the expectations of others?”
Asked what he came to protest, he said he likes diversity, and he sees religion as limiting diversity and suppressing empathy by demanding followers to love only certain types of people.
Lanny, age 80, volunteered to serve as a Marine in Vietnam — prior to the Gulf of Tonkin incident. He had been told it would be a cushy deployment. Seven in his platoon volunteered. He and one other were sent to Germany instead.
He paused and, referring to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., said, “The other five are on the wall.”
When told the interview was for a Baptist publication, he said, “Ahh. A bunch of neo-Confederates.” Told it was an explicitly progressive-leaning publication, he gave a dubious look. Told there was such a thing, he said, “I’m not a Christian.”
Asked how his fellow veterans support someone who called the late John McCain a loser, he said the veteran community is split. He said he has heard talk of murder. “A lot of veterans are living on Social Security and VA benefits. If those get cut, rather than live in a dumpster, some would prefer three hots and a cot” — referring to living in prison.
Pressed as to what leads veterans to support someone who has spoken ill of veterans, he said, “It’s a knee-jerk reaction to the internet manosphere with all its bullshit. They’ve drunk the Kool-Aid, and their brains are fried.”
Asked to compare and contrast his young self and his current self in terms of his opinion about those who chose to dodge the draft by moving to Canada, he said there was no difference because he didn’t begrudge draft dodgers even when he was on active duty. He said he learned early on in his military service about the danger of “drinking government Kool-Aid.”
Lanny said the Gulf of Tonkin incident only happened because Marines were escorting geologists from (an oil company) who wanted to tap oil reserves under Vietnam.” (Note: No resources on the internet could be found to substantiate this assertion.) “I don’t even blame Donald Trump for claiming he had bone spurs. What I will fault him for is if he sends folks into harm’s way if they don’t want to go.”
Todd, age 64, served as a Navy diver planting listening devices along the coast of North Korea. He came to the protest out of frustration over President Trump’s treatment of veterans. He shook his head as he said, “We vets are pissed. (The U.S.) brought home four (veterans’) bodies the other day, and (rather than be at the return ceremony) Trump was playing golf negotiating a business deal with a Saudi that landed him millions of dollars. Lithuanians had made a mile-long tribute as those bodies left. Plus, Trump contributed to the collapse of the stock market in which he was short selling. To me, manipulating the market (for personal gain) is a firing squad offense.”
Similar to Lanny, Todd said he is concerned that lowering veterans’ benefits will lead to violence. He said, “We’ve got 85,000 former snipers who are dealing with PTSD and on 100% disability. Take away their income, and someone is going to take a shot that’s going to lead to civil war. Another risk is Trump sending federal forces into a blue state.”
(BNG photo by Brad Bull)
A 31-year-old female who asked to be identified only by her initials “C.L.” described herself as an agnostic. Asked about the relationship between religion and the current political climate, she expressed dismay about hypocrisy. “If you read the Bible, what’s going on (in the political climate vote for Trump by 80% of white evangelicals) is starkly different from the words of Jesus.”
Her discussion partner was Heidi, a twenty-something from a suburb of Nashville. She grew up Baptist, attended a Christian grade school and high school and then a Methodist college. She said the 2016 election showed the hypocrisy and hatred of the church and she started turning away from modern Christianity.
“I appreciate the words of Jesus, but I now follow the path of caring for earth.” C.L. added, “And each other”— to which Heidi said, “Yes!”
(BNG photo by Brad Bull)
Jamie, 49, held a sign that said, “Jesus chose crucifixion over political power.” She said evangelical leaders have joined forces with oligarchs for the sake of power. “They have weaponized abortion in response to (losing the battle to maintain racial) segregation.”
Jose, 23, wore a Palestinian flag. He said he is a half Hispanic and half white atheist. He said he doesn’t like religion because religious folks talk so much about hell, promote hate—especially of the LGBT community — and too often work against separation of church and state.
Sarah, 27, immigrated from Colombia nine years ago to pursue better opportunities. Now, though, she is afraid she is losing those opportunities. She said she did not come from a religious background. She associates religion with conservativism rather than being treated with respect.
As the crowd dispersed, asked if they had seen any problems, two Nashville police officers smiled and said, “Not at all.”
Brad Bull is a freelance writer living in Nashville.