Organized as the ‘Free America Walkout’, citizens around the country walked out of their places of employment and schools at 2 p.m. Tuesday to say “NO!” to the Trump administration’s disregard for the rule of law and molestation of citizens and immigrants.
After the national walkout, which was chiefly organized by Women’s March, 50501, the ACLU and others, an estimated 300 Knoxvillians gathered in solidarity in below freezing temperatures near West Town Mall.
Strong community support during the event was evident from near-constant excited honks and waves from passing vehicles. When stopped at the traffic light and prompted by a chant leader to “honk for justice,” a powerful chorus of responding horns kept the energy and message going.
“No one, NO ONE, is protesting to keep criminals on the streets,” said Marie Illingworth, one of the organizers for Indivisible Knoxville. “This narrative needs to stop. What we ARE protesting for is to guarantee that Due Process is not being trampled on as barely trained, trigger happy ICE agents terrify communities.”
“We show that we stand firmly against the deployment of ICE and military personnel in our cities and counties by gathering here today,” said Lisa Huff, a Knoxville resident and Indivisible Knoxville member.
“This administration has sent a poorly trained armed force into the nation’s towns and cities to break down the doors of citizens’ homes without warrants, to assault and kill Americans on American soil, and spread chaos while tanking our economy. Now we find ourselves more afraid of our own government than we are of any immigrant. Didn’t our founders fight a war 250 years ago over stuff like this?” asked Huff, the daughter and niece of WWII veterans.
“These are the lengths to which the President is apparently willing to go to continue covering up the Epstein files,” Huff concluded.
The mission of Indivisible Knoxville is to protect democracy by protecting the constitution and by promoting social justice. We believe that the escalating political climate demands escalated, strategic non-violent resistance.
Nonviolent noncooperation is a potent and disruptive form of civic engagement that aims not just to raise awareness, but to compel change by withdrawing consent and compliance from unjust systems. We urge you to join the resistance.
