On June 1, about 200 people held a candlelight vigil for George Floyd on State Street in both Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. The protests were largely peaceful and held across the Tri-Cities region of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.
Chattanooga
Hundreds protested at Miller Park followed by a march across the Walnut Street Bridge at mid-day on May 30. On May 31, protesters marched from Coolidge Park to the Hamilton County Courthouse. After protesters removed some light fixtures and tore down a flag near the courthouse, the National Guard, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Chattanooga Police Department began arresting people and dispersing the crowds with tear gas. On June 3, during the fifth day of peaceful protests, police arrested a man standing on a rooftop along the route of the march with multiple firearms including an AK-47 and six beers.
Clarksville
Over 200 participated in a protest in Clarksville that shut down a major highway but remained peaceful.
Almost 200 protestors showed up to protest peacefully at Jackson City Hall on May 30.
Knoxville
Hundreds of protesters demonstrated on Friday evening in front of police headquarters and then marched through downtown Knoxville.
Memphis
Silent demonstrations of around 40 people protesting the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery, led to "verbal confrontations" with Memphis police and two counter-protesters from the Facebook group Confederate 901. On May 27, protesters shut down Union Avenue near McLean Boulevard. Just after midnight Saturday night, police in riot gear clashed with a large crowd on Beale Street. Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer, who was on scene, tweeted: “Memphis police have threatened to use lethal force if we don’t leave the parking lot. They have arrested our friends. We’re not leaving." On Sunday Evening May 31, the fifth straight day of protests, more riot police attempted to disperse a crowd of 100 that were occupying Main Street. A curfew went into effect in Memphis, TN, on Monday, June 1, from 22:00 to 06:00, and was extended the following day to June 8.
Murfreesboro
On May 31, a group of about 50 protesters marched toward a building on the Middle Tennessee State University campus named after Nathan Bedford Forrest but were stopped by police in armored vehicles. Police accused protesters of vandalizing an armored car and throwing a brick through the window of a local business. A 12-year-old girl was injured by tear gas. Mayor Shane McFarland issued a state of emergency order. A curfew was in effect as of 6:30 pm.
On May 30, thousands gathered for a protest in downtown Nashville; protesters peacefully demonstrated in Legislative Plaza and then marched to a police department. In the evening, the crowd damaged a police car, threw rocks and sprayed graffiti; at least 5 were arrested. Mayor John Cooper declared a state of emergency and called in the national guard after a spate of arsons, including the burning of Nashville's courthouse.
The "Nashville Autonomous Zone"
The Nashville Autonomous Zone, sometimes referred to as the Ida B. Wells Plaza, is a self-declared autonomous zone on the Capitol grounds of Nashville, Tennessee. Modeled on the preceding Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, the Nashville Zone was established on June 12, 2020, during the George Floyd protests and ran into the next week. Local governance in the Zone was decentralized, with the goal of creating a zone without police. Free food and water was available for activists. On June 12th local activists called for protesters to occupy the Capitol grounds, starting at 5:00 p.m. local time. Fliers circulated by organizers demanded "Fire Chief Anderson. Defund the Police. Demilitarize the Police. Remove Racist Statues." In the wake of Occupy Wall Street the Tennessee State Legislature passed law making the occupation of State land after 10:00 p.m. a Class A misdemeanor. Five days earlier, protesters in Seattle had declared the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, which inspired the Nashville effort with some calling the NAZ the "CHAZ of the South".
Territory
The protesters occupied Legislative Plaza, just south of the Tennessee State Capitol. There was previously a Statue of Edward Carmack, which had been toppled by other protesters in May. Protesters renamed the plaza "Ida B. Wells Plaza". It has been transformed into an arts space.
Demands
Alternatively, protesters have said that they would remain until Governor Lee agrees to defund the police, or to come in person and discuss police brutality with them. Purported demands associated with the Zone included the abolition or defunding of police, the firing of the Nashville Chief of Police, and the removal of monuments believed to be racist.
Reactions
The Nashville PD said that they are monitoring the situation in coordination with other law enforcement agencies. Mike Stewart, Tennessee State House Democratic Caucus chair, stopped by and said; "Seems like an unbelievably peaceful gathering." Governor Bill Lee warned against the creation of the Zone, saying that he would enforce the laws of the State.
