Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks of Henley Street Bridge in Downtown Knoxville on Labor Day to peacefully protest President Donald Trump’s federal policies and his wealthy donors. It was part of a larger movement of Labor Day marches happening in small towns and major cities nationwide. Knoxville’s protest, called 'Labor of Love,' was organized by Indivisible Knoxville, a chapter of a national non-profit that formed during Trump’s first term in office. Indivisible is among several groups that organized the No Kings protests earlier this year.
The protest’s theme focused on raising awareness and assisting workers whose families have been affected by federal immigration enforcement policies.
“We are coming together as a community to demand justice — and to support those left behind,” Indivisible Knoxville’s website read.
The protest was also part of a fundraiser with non-profit organization Hola Lakeway, which provides service to multicultural families in six East Tennessee counties.
“They [Indivisible Knoxville] have voices, and they're defending people that don't have a voice, and that we are thankful for," said Betsey Hurst, the executive director of Hola Lakeway.
Several volunteers with Indivisible Knoxville monitored 'Labor of Love' by directing traffic, checking on protestors and taking questions from bystanders. One of those volunteers was Tiffany Hoppe, who has participated in five other protests organized by the group.
“We are just out here to let people know that there are people here who love them and care about them and want them to be a part of our community,” she said.
During the two hour protest, protestors were met with drivers honking their horns in support of their message, while also receiving taunts and offensive gestures from those who opposed their message.
“This is what democracy looks like,” were among several chants led by demonstrators.
Among the protestors was Estrella Lopez, who wore the flags of Mexico and Guatemala around her shoulders. She carried a sign that read “I’ll never switch on my people for cheaper groceries,” a reference to promises made during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024.
“My mom's from Guatemala, my dad's from Mexico,” she said. “And I do this because they're the unspoken voices that people are not here to do today and I'm a citizen, so I can do it.”
Next to her was Stefania Vasquez Lopez, whose parents are also immigrants.
“I would not be here if it wasn't for them,” she said. “And I read something the other day that said, 'our parents' ceilings are our floors.' So I'm taking this opportunity to speak for them.”
Savanna Bowles, a protestor who dressed as the Statue of Liberty, carried signs parodying Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump. She wore fake shackles on her wrists.
“I work with a lot of Hispanic immigrants… they're really scared to come out here,” she said. “I don't really have anything to risk, so I'd rather do it now than deal with the consequences later.”
The protest comes one week after the Knox County Commission passed a resolution recognizing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s (KSCO) contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program. The initiative allows local law enforcement to assist ICE through identifying and detaining non-U.S. citizens with criminal charges. KSCO has participated in 287(g) since 2017, when it became one of the first county law enforcement agencies in Tennessee to do so. According to the resolution, county deputies arrested and detained nearly 400 immigrants in April alone, a 245% increase from the 163 detainees reported for the month of January.
One protestor, Lisa Carroll, says that it's an indication of how immigrants have been treated in the United States since Trump assumed office.
"Immigrants comprise so many workers in this country, and they are being made to suffer unnecessarily," she said. "It's just ridiculous."
