A counterprotester at the “No Kings” demonstration in Nashville, Tennessee, has been charged with a firearm violation after allegedly brandishing a firearm.

Elijah Millar, 19, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after witnesses at the June 14 protest told law enforcement that he had spat at them and then pulled out a gun.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers arrested him at the protest and took a pistol from him, according to the Justice Department. He was then stopped again by police in his hometown of Murfreesboro, where police took another pistol off him.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Tennessee, via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The ability to protest peacefully is a fundamental right in the United States.

The “No Kings” protests on June 14 were the largest nationwide demonstrations against the Trump administration since President Donald Trump took office in January. The vast majority of the 2,000+ demonstrations across the U.S. were peaceful and occurred without incident. Millar was the only person arrested at the Nashville demonstration.

However, one person died from gunfire at a “No Kings” protest in Utah after an armed safety volunteer saw someone with a gun and fired into the crowd, shooting and killing bystander Arthur Folasa Ah Loo.

What To Know

Witnesses at the Nashville demonstration told law enforcement that Millar was dressed in all black and wearing a mask. He then got into an argument with protesters and pointed his firearm at the ground before being apprehended and disarmed by MNPD officers.

According to the Justice Department, he has been under a mental health conservatorship since 2023, finding that he was “at risk of substantial harm to his health, safety, and welfare.” This prohibited him from receiving or possessing a firearm. The next year, a judge found him to be a “disabled person needing care,” which “significantly [restricted] his access to firearms.”

It is unclear from the DOJ filings at this time if his charges stem from his actions at the protest, his possession of a firearm, or both. He was also charged with disorderly conduct by Nashville police.

What People Are Saying

Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire, in a press release: “The right to peaceably protest government action is guaranteed by the First Amendment and cannot be infringed upon by armed individuals whose actions put people in danger.

“Our efforts to hold firearm offenders accountable are designed to keep all members of the public safe from potential violence.”

What Happens Next

If found guilty, Millar could face up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.