Public filings and grant records trace millions in coordinated funding — including a Soros-backed network — behind the October demonstrations that drew an estimated 40,000 Tennesseans.
On Oct. 18, 2025, thousands of Tennesseans joined the nationwide “No Kings” protests, part of a coordinated campaign opposing President Trump’s administration and policies. Organizers promoted the events as a defense of democracy and civic engagement, staging more than 2,500 rallies across all 50 states.
In Tennessee, estimates suggest roughly 40,000 people participated, including about 8,000 in Nashville, 8,000 in Knoxville, and 3,000 in Chattanooga, with smaller gatherings across the state. Local coverage described the events as peaceful and centered on themes of government accountability and voter participation.
The network behind the movement
A database compiled by journalist Asra Nomani’s Pearl Project identifies 265 organizations tied to the “No Kings” coalition. The list includes nonprofits, labor unions, political committees, and advocacy groups reporting a combined $2.9 billion in annual revenue, according to IRS filings and public financial data.
Of those groups, about 186 hold some form of tax-exempt status — 79 as 501(c)(3) charities, 100 as 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and 24 as 501(c)(5) labor unions. The remainder consists of PACs, coalitions, and for-profit vendors providing logistical or digital support.
Critics argue that the level of organization and funding undermines the movement’s image as a spontaneous, grassroots uprising. Supporters counter that coordinated action is a normal feature of modern advocacy and that nonprofit involvement is permitted within IRS limits on political activity.
Funding connections and oversight
Public grant records show that Indivisible, one of the principal organizers of “No Kings,” received a $3 million, two-year grant in 2023 from the Open Society Action Fund, an affiliate of billionaire investor George Soros’s Open Society Foundations.
Open Society describes its mission as promoting democracy, civil rights, and social justice — priorities generally aligned with the Democratic Party’s policy agenda. Soros has long been one of the largest individual donors to Democratic candidates and progressive causes, directing hundreds of millions of dollars through political action committees and charitable foundations.
Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ted Cruz, have called for investigations into whether some tax-exempt organizations linked to the “No Kings” protests exceeded limits on political activity. Open Society and Indivisible maintain that all grants and programs comply with federal law and emphasize that their work centers on civic engagement, not electioneering. As of October 2025, no formal findings or enforcement actions have been announced.
Tennessee’s turnout and regional contrasts
While Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga each reported large, well-organized events, turnout in Memphis was smaller. Local coverage described only hundreds of demonstrators.
Regional focus may have influenced those differences. In Middle and East Tennessee, organizers framed “No Kings” as a broad stand for democracy and voting rights, attracting a mix of civic groups and new participants. Memphis activists, by contrast, often concentrate on local issues such as policing, economic equity, and community development — priorities that may not have aligned directly with the protest’s national message.
Transparency and accountability questions
The scale and structure of the “No Kings” coalition — combining tax-exempt charities, labor groups, and political networks — have renewed debate over whether U.S. nonprofit laws draw a clear enough distinction between civic engagement and partisan activity. Supporters say coordinated advocacy strengthens democracy by mobilizing citizens across states. Critics contend it risks turning charitable networks into political infrastructure.
Whatever one’s interpretation, public filings and the Pearl Project’s data confirm that the “No Kings” protests were not an improvised effort but a coordinated, well-funded alliance of progressive organizations with deep national ties. For Tennessee voters, that means the rallies seen on city streets represented only one visible layer of a much larger political network operating behind the scenes.
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