Chants, colorful costumes and handmade signs filled downtown Knoxville on Saturday as Indivisible Knoxville hosted the second annual “No Kings” protest, drawing students, alumni and residents.
Participants of all ages filled the streets, carrying glistening, creative signs in hand, many bearing bold messages or illustrations directed toward the Trump administration. Several attendees also embraced a playful Halloween theme, dressing in costumes ranging from unicorns to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
While for some these costumes were simply a fun way to dress up, others, like Knoxville native Rebecca Ryan, who dressed as a chicken, explained that the costumes were statements.
“I wanted to be ridiculous to equal the same level as the government,” Ryan said.
The combination of costumes and creative signage gave the protest a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.
Protesters in downtown Knoxville during the No Kings Protest. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
While the intricate costumes and signs reflected the creativity of the protest, organizers like Amanda Collins emphasized that careful planning and attention to safety were essential for the event. Collins, who helped organize the event for Indivisible Knoxville, explained that planning for the event began as soon as the national organization announced the date.
“As soon as Indivisible sends out a call for a date … We start planning and gathering volunteers and figuring out what our needs are and what our routes are going to look like, and what kinds of security measures we want in place that are visible and what kind we want that are not visible and just trying to get the word out,” Collins said.
She also reflected on the pride she felt when the event came together successfully.
“It’s a very active and hands-on process. I know that a lot of people like to think that Indivisible is just AstroTurf paid for by somebody else. We literally get no paychecks from doing this, and it is a good deal of time, but it’s because we have the responsibility for so many people, their safety, and we want them to come out and do what the point is, which is celebrating democracy and showing solidarity with other indivisibles all across the nation at the same time,” Collins said.
Protesters in downtown Knoxville during the No Kings Protest. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
While the protest was centered around federal government accountability, many who showed up came in support of Knoxville native Alejandro Lozano. Lozano, a 32-year-old political activist, immigrated from Culiacán, Mexico, to Knoxville, Tennessee, at the age of just 12.
On Oct. 16, Lozano traveled to Middle Tennessee for a routine immigration check, where he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and put in Putnam County Jail before being transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana.
While many were hesitant to share their own stories related to ICE, they agreed that Lozano’s situation helped inspire them to come out in support. Numerous signs demanded that ICE leave Knoxville, and several attendees held up pictures of Lozano to show their support.
The Beacon approached many of the protest’s attendees for comment, but most declined.
