Hundreds of Mid-South protestors march in downtown Memphis against President Trump’s proposed government cutbacks

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Memphis on Monday to voice their opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed spending cuts, which they said will severely impact the lives of everyday Americans.

The rally was organized by several grassroots organizations from across the Mid-South, gathered near Memphis City Hall as protesters chanted, held signs, and made their concerns heard.

They voiced strong opposition to proposed cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and Social Security, which the Trump administration has outlined in a $2 trillion budget reduction plan.

Rally reflects growing discontent

Sandra Barrett, a concerned veteran who recently moved to Memphis, told ABC24 about the impact these cuts would have on the people who rely on these services. Barrett, who attended the rally said the current administration’s actions are harming people who have served the country and contributed to its welfare.

“I think the underappreciation of our military because we are not suckers and losers,” Barrett said. “We’re making our phone calls everyday, we’re sending emails, we are letting our local representatives know how we feel and holding them accountable.”

Voices from the community

Virginia Hinostroza, a Hispanic protester, expressed frustration to ABC24 with the Trump administration’s stance on immigration and its handling of recent ICE raids. She described the raids as painful and harmful to families. Hinostroza said what President Trump is doing does not represent the values she believes America stands for.

“They want a white male dominated America, and that’s just not America. Maybe that’s their last stand, but this is America right here,” she said. “A multitude of people of all ages, all backgrounds, all orientations — that doesn’t matter. Like, we are the people.”

Rising tension and future plans

Bill Stegall, another protester said that if the administration does not address their concerns, protestors may escalate their actions. He said he personally knows someone impacted by the Medicaid cuts.

“I know someone that runs a big health care concern and they’re having trouble meeting payroll. Medicaid is really important to a lot of people, and they’ve just been shutting it down,” he said.

Stegall believes the Trump administration’s goal is not to save money but to harm communities they are not in favor of. He and others at the rally suggested that, if necessary, they would disrupt daily life in Memphis, even blocking streets or shutting down entrances to demonstrate their dissatisfaction.

“We may have to go home and do other things besides getting together and meeting each other. We may have to block doorways, we have to block streets, we may have shut things down,” Stegall said.

The power of protest

As protesters continued their march, the message was clear: they are not backing down. They want to make their voices heard and ensure that the concerns of marginalized communities are addressed in the government’s decisions.

As the protest wrapped up, the crowd’s energy remained strong. With several groups united under one cause marching past Memphis City Hall for a few blocks.

The protestors have made one thing clear: they will fight for the benefits and services they believe are essential to their lives.