Knoxville residents gathered downtown on Friday, June 13 to raise their voices in solidarity against recent immigration policies.
“NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE” was chanted through Market Square as protesters made their way to the city courthouse. Led by the Party of Socialism and Liberation, the protest was held to fight against immigration laws and policies put into place under the Trump administration, and in response to the National Guard’s presence at recent protests in Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of residents within Knoxville’s community joined the organization, using their voices for the people who are unwilling, afraid or both.
Hannah Freeman, a member of PSL, spoke about what she hopes will be the outcome of the protest and how she wants to change the minds of our local leaders.
“We are here, and we will fight,” Freeman said.
Protesters are seen in downtown Knoxville. Friday, June 13, 2025.
Freeman said that in Tennessee, Knox County is one out of three counties that allows the sheriff’s department to detain undocumented immigrants through an agreement made with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Knox County jails these immigrants using taxpayers’ money, per the agreement.
“Our tax dollars do not need to be spent that way,” Freeman said. “Our police are meant to serve and protect, not to split families apart, which is what they are doing currently.”
Throughout the protest, representatives of Planned Parenthood handed out pamphlets provided by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition to educate the community on their rights regarding legal citizen status.
“A lot of folks don’t know how to interact with ICE through these unprecedented times,” Makaela Webb, the East Tennessee grassroots organizer in Knoxville, said. “We are just trying to spread some information to the community and fight for bodily autonomy.”
With a high rise in ICE raids nationwide and — more locally — a rise in the number of people detained and being held in Knox County jails, Webb and others at Planned Parenthood want to support and spread awareness more than ever.
As a newcomer to Tennessee and a child of immigrant parents, Brian Lopez spoke candidly about his ambivalence towards the protest, recognizing its significance while also voicing concerns over divisions it might create.
“I do appreciate what everyone comes out here to do for us, it’s really important,” Lopez said. “But I really believe that we should be united, and sometimes it feels like these events just cause division.”
Protesters are seen in downtown Knoxville. Friday, June 13, 2025.
The protest, which began in Market Square with members of PSL giving speeches to a large and energized crowd, eventually moved in a march out of the community hub towards the Howard H. Baker, Jr. United States Courthouse.
At the courthouse, protesters joined in cheers as another set of speeches were delivered and members of PSL carefully controlled any traffic passing through the narrow section of Cumberland Avenue in front of the courthouse.
After the march to the courthouse, the group returned to Market Square where some attendants continued the protest with music and dancing, refusing to allow heavy rainfall to obstruct their demonstration.
For more information about PSL and to know about any future events the group holds, check out their Instagram at @pslknoxville.
“We believe in America, for liberty and for justice for ALL, a pathway to citizenship for ALL and for due process for ALL,” Freeman said.
