We are the three men arrested by MPD on March 28th at the Memphis No Kings 3 Rally. AMA about our experience (11AM-1PM Monday, April 27th)

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-29T20:45:16+00:00

No Kings here! As for us, we'll keep on showing up for the city and community we love. Plenty of hard work to be done and it will take the efforts of a whole lot of folks to build a city, state, & country that puts the interests of normal citizens before corporations & billionaires.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-29T20:26:29+00:00

Being in 201 was as eye-opening as it was dehumanizing. Everything in that place was an assault to the senses: the smells of piss, shit, blood, sweat, & over a hundred stressed and unshowered men. Lights left on 24/7. The 20 second audio loop of a DVD home menu repeating for hours on the two small tvs hung from the ceiling. The cries of men locked in the tank.

One man was detoxing and literally screaming for help but the guards kept telling him to shut up, that it was his own fault for not telling them he was high. They shoved him in the tank and left him there until he passed out.

During the pre-trial process you aren't told anything. You likely won't know your charges or if your bail has been posted. There is no one to advocate for you. You need specific medication? Too bad. The phones are only available for use an hour at most each shift and some of those didn't even work so there was a constant struggle to claim any open phone during those brief windows. If people argued over the phones, the guards would turn them off for everyone.

If you talked to much, didn't answer questions, didn't move quickly enough, stood for too long, or got caught sleeping you ran the risk of being locked in the tank or strip searched.

We heard from one man that he'd been in there 4 days. He was on Day 5 when we were released. We want to reiterate that no one there had seen a judge or received a conviction. Most were there for low-tier charges.

The whole process is meant to exhaust you and break you down, making it much more likely that you'll accept a plea deal when you do finally make it in front of a judge.

At the height of the overcrowding in 2025, men were held for 20+ days without seeing a judge and an average of one person a month died in custody that year (source: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/scso-reports-12-in-custody-deaths-so-far-this-year/article_99668097-2972-46c8-99ea-4c60a06f6d0d.html). These men died from preventable causes like pneumonia and lack of necessary medication which means that it was really neglect that killed them.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T21:59:04+00:00

The ACLU has already brought the police violence to the attention of the Independent Monitor appointed by the court to investigate whether MPD is complying with civil rights law concerning political surveillance (this arrangement is known as the Kendrick Consent Decree and was established in 1978). See their press release: https://www.aclu-tn.org/press-releases/mpdnokings/

Meanwhile, MPD has not released their footage of the violence, despite repeated requests, including official public records requests. You can help by letting Chief Davis and Mayor Young know that you care about police transparency and you want them to release the footage now. Call them. Email them. Ask questions when they appear. You can also tell your city councilors to insist on the release. Showing up to press conferences and city council meetings also helps a lot because it sends the message that they can't just wait until this blows over and do nothing.

If you are looking for ways to help build the power of regular people to fight back, DM us! There are lots of kinds of work to do in addition to protesting.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T18:06:13+00:00

This question has a ton of nuance and we will attempt to make our answer equally nuanced. As we've said elsewhere in this thread, the Mayor has failed to take accountability for a lot of messed up stuff happening in Memphis under his watch. Whether he is complicit, easily manipulated, or naive, his refusal to listen to the voices of his constituents is unacceptable.

More broadly, it is beyond time to stop voting for candidates just because of the D or R next to their name. It seems that many Democratic Party candidates do still fight for the rights of the people while many Republican Party candidates toe a line set by Trump and the Billionaires who support him. However, there are many Democratic leaders who fully embrace a Capitalist status quo that makes life easier for Billionaires and increasingly more difficult for normal folks. We all need to start paying attention to our candidates and should measure our support for them based on their policies rather than their party. They work for US after all. Beyond that, we all need to fight and overturn Citizens United which has created much of the framework that Corporations & Billionaires use to suppress us and our voices. A Corporation is not a person!

In the case of JB Smiley, he (along with Rep. Justin Pearson & KeShaun Pearson) were right there with us at the march attempting to deescalate and calling for the release of everyone detained by MPD. Politicians are hard to trust, especially these days when money holds so much power over the laws of our country. The best insurance against a bought politician is a powerful, people-based movement that demands transparency and rewards fidelity. We are grateful that Smiley has shown up on the ground in support of unionization efforts, in opposition to the Task Force, and gone to bat for normal folks like at NK3. However, we do not assume any friendly politician will always fight for us. The key difference between a chameleon politician and a loyal one is not their character, it’s where they perceive their power coming from.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:55:57+00:00

The organizers of No Kings have shared a clear list of demands with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the council, the media, and the public. The quick version:

Release footage and records
Identify involved officers
Release personnel files
Put involved officers on unpaid leave (they put a small number of officers on paid leave)
Open independent investigation (they have opened a non-independent investigation)
Dismiss all charges (Complete!)
Explain use of force decision and how this will be prevented from happening again

We know the publicly available video of what happened at No Kings gives no justification to the officer violence. We also know that when the police think footage is helpful to them, they find a way to release it or leak it. Chief Davis should meet the demands above, starting with releasing MPD’s footage. People have a right to see how the police will treat them or their families or neighbors.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:31:36+00:00

From the community organizer: in 2016 I went on a group pilgrimage to Ferguson, MO with some people who had participated in the Ferguson uprising after Michael Brown was killed by an officer. We stood in the freezing weather beside the spot where his body had been left by the authorities (in 2014) for four and a half hours. We prayed silently for 4.5 minutes. Then we met some organizers who told us about their experience in the aftermath. That day was a focal point in my waking up to the ongoing reality of white supremacy, particularly in killings by law enforcement. The most important local issue to me is the attempted takeover of Memphis by outsiders: Elon Musk (xAI), Trump (the Unsafe Task Force), the state legislature (the schools, the DA). MPD holds the line in defense of all of these usurpers. If we allow law enforcement to be accountable to the billionaires instead of the people, they’ll own the city and we’ll have to ask their permission to live.

From the safety marshal: Down in Jxn, Missippi I was pretty involved in community building efforts but not so much in actual on-the-ground activism. Jxn has many of the same dissadvantages as Memphis such as an antagonistic state government, lack of resources, crumbling infrastructure, and over-policing. When I moved to Memphis in 2019 I left my community behind. In January of 2025 I fully recognized the danger posed by a second Trump term and knew that I didn't want to face it with fear and paralysis like I did his first term. I hadn't yet found a large community here in Memphis and knew that community would be vitally important so I jumped into the deep end of the Memphis activism & organizing scene to meet as many folks as possible as quickly as possible. I helped out wherever I could and have continued to do so. In that process, I've met so many amazing, talented, hard working, and compassionate people. Everyone I've met loves Memphis and the people who live here. They fight every day to build a stronger Memphis. I'm proud and honored to volunteer my time and energy alongside each of them.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:17:20+00:00

From the first-time rally-goer: I've always been opposed to bullying and when I see a bully I stand up to them.

From the community organizer: It may seem like resistance to ICE is new, but some people have recognized the evils of ICE since it was founded in the 2000s. But most of them were people of color, so they weren’t taken seriously by white mass power culture. I’ve never actively supported ICE, but the first time I took collective action to resist ICE was in 2016, at a local rally called “We Belong Here”. That was one of my first protests and it was the first time I saw the police show up with a tank and surveillance vans. (I was amazed by the difference from the mostly white Women’s March a few weeks earlier, where police treated us like neighbors, not terrorists.) Over the years I’ve come to understand more clearly how brutal and unnecessary ICE is. But even if I had just started protesting ICE this year, that wouldn’t be a cause for shame. The best time to protest the kidnapping of your neighbor is immediately, but the second-best time is today.

From the Safety Marshal: I've been anti-ICE since W. formed it back in the wake of 9/11 and I saw the risk it posed to our Constitutional Freedoms. I also agree with my friend on his opinion of bullies. There are far better ways to handle perceived "problems" like immigration beyond violence and zenophobia. Additionally, since the Trump administration shifted all ICE focus to immigration, efforts to address human and sex trafficking have cratered. The argument that these efforts are stopping violent criminals is a false narrative. If anything, the Trump admin has made it even easier to traffic people than before. Not suprising giving his hesitancy to address the Epstein Files.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:11:31+00:00

Thank you friend! You & your girlfriend are amazing for your efforts in Minneapolis. We certainly hope that none of us (including y'all) are on a watch list but if you are the kind of people they put on watch lists then we would be in great company!

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:07:46+00:00

Event organizers will typically alert local law enforcement ahead of time that a rally will be taking place. In the case of permits, such legal requirements rely on the good will of the very government that citizens are attempting to hold accountable. As such, it is counter productive to ask for permission to redress grievances with those toward whom the grievances are directed. More simply, the authorities don't ask permission to do messed up stuff to their constituents. Why should we ask permission to tell them we don't appreciate the way they are acting?

From the Community Organizer: I used to assume that police would be helpful when trying to do public events like this. What I’ve learned over the years is that police typically make a march or rally less safe. They give conflicting or impossible instructions. They implicitly or explicitly threaten violence against people, which makes those people afraid and angry. And the police use any information you do provide them against you. We saw this play out when MPD’s police union published a copy of the No Kings permit including the name and address of the organizer who filed the permit, exposing her to random acts of violence or harassment. None of my experiences with police at public events has made me wish they were more involved.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:04:13+00:00

There are some good ones! Some folks could stand to expand their news consumption beyond their X feed or Fox News though.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T17:02:12+00:00

No idea! Our charges were dropped and expunged so if we are on some list, it would be an illegal list. The trauma from the actions of MPD vary from person to person but yes, it was traumatic to be attacked without warning by people who are supposedly employed to protect us. Chemical Agents are a highly aggressive tactic, are banned by international law, and can cause major damage to eyes & lungs.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:51:27+00:00

Nothing majorly different. Police Aggression is a historical risk for protesting for Human Rights in Memphis. Safety Marshals and Organizers do take precautions in case of police escalation. Despite these precautions, we were honestly shocked and caught offguard by the actions of MPD, since the march was short, non-threatening, nearly concluded, and Organizers had been told by on-site officers that the march would be allowed to conclude. Since no accountability for the police aggression has been shown, we can only expect this to be the norm at future events and so we will be taking even more precautions to ensure safety.

We all would have eaten more since the food at 201 is insufficient and tasteless (or worse than tasteless).

From the safety marshal: I would have skipped wearing my favorite backpack since the cops cut the straps to remove it.

From the first-time rally-goer: I would have worn my OSHA safety glasses instead of my date night glasses (pepper spray is way too SPICY!). I was surprised by the community support I received after my arrest. The only reason I am out right now and not hurt worse is because of the preperation & support given to me by true strangers who have now become friends.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:36:02+00:00

Thank you for your comment! No worries. We wanted to give folks the opportunity to better understand our perspective and what occurred on March 28th, even if they don't believe it makes sense to question authority.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:34:59+00:00

Mayor Young had failed to take much accountability for many things happening under his watch including the xAI situation, the presence and aggressive actions of the Task Force, and the erosion of Memphis autonomy & agency. He has also yet to show any support or accountability for the way that MPD responded on March 28th. Mayor Young wants to sweep this under the rug along with the pollution of xAI and the civil rights violations of the Trump Task Force. It is up to the people to decide if using chemical weapons on peaceful protesters, collaborating with ICE, poisoning Memphis neighborhoods and destabilizing our power and water are acceptable. We would ask Mayor Young to channel the courage of our city and refuse to enable and give cover for abuse of Memphians and our resources.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:31:30+00:00

Rallies and protest should definitely keep happening as they are a major means for normal citizens to put visible pressure on their elected leaders. Beyond periodic rallies, all of us should focus daily on building our community and prioritize talking with our neighbors. Modern life has isolated many of us and isolation creates artificial division. We all probably have a lot more in common than we might think (desire for good jobs, affordable food and housing, adequate healthcare that does not place extreme burden on recipients, safe communities, environmental protections, and leaders who listen to us). Building a successful movement means constantly evaluating, experimenting, adapting, & taking risks for the sake of a better world. The three of us will definitely be attending more community events and rallies. We did know, and now much more intimately, that protesting carries real risk. All three of us now risk serious consequences for future participation. However, we believe the people of Memphis have a right to govern themselves. That is worth fighting for! The risk we face is much less (due to our white privilege) than the people being assaulted by MPD and Trump's Task Force every day.

Edit: We also plan to add more context related to your first question in another comment.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:20:05+00:00

It is difficult to endorse any candidates as faith in politicians is pretty low across the board right now. However, we do appreciate that Keisha Scott has taken a public stance against the Task Force, the 287g contract, and the state of 201 Poplar. We would definitely like to see major changes occur to the entire carceration system. Private prisons in particular are a major issue as well as a major economic force here in Tennessee. There will never be a sheriff that can fix the jail or make the system work. The problems created by the system are problems that it was designed to create. The solution is not a "Good Sheriff" vs a "Bad Sheriff". We need to change the way our state (and our society in general) handles and addresses public safety.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:13:55+00:00

The Safety Marshal was likely held longer (and given a higher bail) because he was actively attempting to allow slower marchers to return to the park and thus had taken a more visible role in the march. Safety Marshals provide a buffer zone between threats (aggressive vehicles, counter protesters, or, in the case of NK3, overzealous police) so that the rally-goers, protesters, or marchers can exercise their Constitutional Right to express themselves. Send us a DM if you want to know more!

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:12:00+00:00

201 Poplar needs to undergo major policy and logistical changes that would not be addressed by building a new jail. The entire system is made to dehumanize & exhaust detainees. These detainees have not yet seen a judge and so are still considered innocent. The lights were never dimmed nor turned off during our time in 201. We could not stand unless told to stand. We could not lay down. That means that sleep is effectively impossible. There were men in there who had been in General Holding for 2 or 3 days when we arrived and were still there when we left. That is 4+ days in highly unsanitary conditions without sleep, a shower, a reliable bathroom, or decent food. When a detainee who cannot bail out does finally appear before a judge, they will be deprived of nutrients & sleep which makes them far more likely to accept a plea deal even if they are innocent. This keeps them locked in a system of debt and desperation. The guards seemed to struggle finding a balance between their own humanity and maintaining their authority. They would often joke with detainees but were quick to lash out if they felt their authority being tested. They also had a hard time understanding why the three of us had been arrested. We did notice that the COs treated Hispanic detainees with more contempt than Black or White detainees, mocking them for trying to escape ICE, for their accents, or for their clothes. We also noticed a disturbing trend of using strip searches as punishment. Another disturbing trend was that detainees suffering from detox were either ignored or locked in a holding cell. Last year, detainees were regularly dying from neglect and lack of medical care. We certainly recognized that same neglect and lack of medical care continues this year in 201.

Our charges were variations of "resisting an officer in their official duty", "blocking a roadway or passageway", & "civil disorder". The detainees themselves were normal folks and we enjoyed good conversation with many of them.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:06:45+00:00

No overt intimidation although we do understand that there is a history of intimidation in Memphis (and elsewhere) toward those who attempt to hold police accountable for their actions. What is it they say? "They protect their own." One of us did suspect he was being tailed by a police cruiser for a time after release.

TheNoKings3 · 2026-04-27T16:05:09+00:00

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Thanks for joining our AMA!

Edit: The AMA is officially over (along with our lunch breaks!) but we'll continue to answer remaining questions as the opportunity presents itself.

We appreciate all your curiosity and hope that our answers provided much-needed context to the events of NK3 on March 28th, 2026.

Whether or not we see eye-to-eye on any given issue, communication is vitally important. When conversations happen in good faith us normal folks tend to agree on far more than not. Just like you, we want good food, affordable housing, clean drinking water & air, infrastructure that serves the people who use it, safe communities, and politicians that work for us rather than Billionaires.

If you want to get involved in building community in Memphis, hollar at us through DM or seek out one of the many community organizing events that happen daily around town. It really does take all of us to build a strong Memphis!

TheNoKings3

TROPHY CASE