Less than 12 hours after President Donald Trump announced attacks against Iran, dozens of Chattanooga residents gathered on Riverfront Parkway to express their feelings about the military operation.
On Saturday afternoon, February 28, demonstrators gathered in the heart of Downtown Chattanooga. Local organizations helped orchestrate the event, including See Jane, Chattanooga Bridge Brigade, Democracy Rocks, and Democracy in Action.
Dozens of protesters took to Riverfront Parkway with signs, banners, and chants to make their opinions seen and voices heard.
“We’re going to be involved in another big war,” says Esteleta Hughes. Another protestor and Vietnam veteran, Dick Wilson, believes in a strong military. However, he says “you need somebody sane at the head of the thing.”
Many attendees were holding signs with political messages on them. Others led chants or songs and marched. Some protestors waved the American flag or the LGBTQ+ flag.
Demonstrators say there are several reasons they were protesting. Some say they were in protest against ICE, the Epstein files, and the entire Trump administration.
However, the main focus of the protest were the attacks in Iran. Protestor Shelly Doran says, “We just want people to be able to go back to a normal three tiers of government – being able to be proud to be Americans.” Another protestor, McKellar Newsome, “They don’t want what’s good for a country. And if he was like wanting what was good for a country.” She adds that the Trump Administration should be “more compassionate and empathetic.”
Our Local 3 team was at the protest for an hour and a half, and did not see any counterprotests.