Jessica Hester of Pontotoc, Miss., dressed as Lady Liberty in chains at the No Kings protest in Tupelo, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. She said sticking together is a big part of what Americans need to do. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free Press
Hundreds of residents of Tupelo, Mississippi, turned out at a No Kings protest against the Trump administration’s policies outside the office of U.S. House Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Lee County protesters also brought peanut butter, cereal and other items to provide to the local food pantry. Mary Jane Meadows with Indivisible Mississippi, the organization behind the event, told the Mississippi Free Press that local aid is more important than ever since Republicans in Congress cut funding to SNAP with President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Here are some photos of those who showed up and the protest signs they carried.
Hundreds of Tupelo, Miss., residents protested against the Trump administration’s policies as part of the nationwide No Kings protests in front of U.S. House Rep. Trent Kelly’s office on Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free PressMary Jane Meadows with Indivisible Mississippi holds up some of the food donations that protesters brought to the No Kings rally to support the local food pantry in Tupelo, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free PressTory Evans, who is from Houston, Texas, and new to the area, set up a chair and table to portray the idea of “uncivil discourse,” which involves filming someone and then ridiculing them online, at the No Kings rally in Tupelo, Miss., on Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free PressMike Walker wears a shirt expressing his support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while he observes the No Kings protest in Tupelo, Miss., from across the street. Walker said he wanted to ensure no harm was done to U.S. House Rep. Trent Kelly’s office and that the area was clean afterwards. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free PressHundreds of Tupelo, Miss., residents protested against the Trump administration’s policies as part of the nationwide No Kings protests in front of U.S. House Rep. Trent Kelly’s office on Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Tristyn Stoop, Mississippi Free Press
Tristyn Stoop is a University of Memphis Lambuth graduate, native of Tennessee, and has enjoyed covering breaking news events for print and broadcast. She lives in Booneville, Mississippi, with her wife and many cats and dogs.
