Memphis Mayor Paul Young announced police officers were placed on administrative leave on Monday after they made arrests at the No Kings rally held on Saturday, even after the Memphis Police Department (MPD) released a statement alleging that some protesters began an illegal march that was not covered in the event permit.
“We respect our residents’ right to peacefully assemble, and I hate that this incident occurred at the end of Saturday’s event,” wrote Young in a statement posted to social media. “We also recognize that our officers’ jobs are inherently difficult, and we owe them a full review of the interactions occurring that day.”
The mayor then confirmed the leave, writing, “We are currently reviewing, and pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.”
Young announced the officers were placed on administrative leave nearly a full day after MPD released a statement alleging that those arrested illegally first entered the street, obstructed traffic, and ignored officers’ requests to leave the roadway for more than half an hour.
“Despite repeated requests to clear the roadway, several individuals near MLK Ave and Fourth refused to leave the street and instead interlocked arms, forming a human chain,” according to the police department. “Officers then began detaining those individuals who remained in the roadway. As officers made arrests, some individuals resisted, and an officer deployed pepper spray.”
According to the department, the incident led to six arrests, but only three individuals were charged.
Those charged were Rueben Burch, 33; Adam Nelson, 41; and David Rahaim, 42. All three men were charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway and passageway.
Nelson was additionally charged with failure to obey a traffic officer, while Rahaim was also charged with resisting official detention. Burch was also charged with interfering with an officer and resisting official detention.
More than 5,000 No Kings protests have been held across the United States since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, including over 3,100 last Saturday.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “No Kings Protest” by Marc Nozell. CC BY 2.0.
