NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Dozens of demonstrators from all over Tennessee came to Nashville Sunday to rally against President Donald Trump's proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
"We want to send a loud message to Washington: hands off the Postal Service," said Anthony Lauderdale with the Tennessee Association of Letter Carriers, who helped organize the demonstration.
The protest happened Sunday, March 23 in front of the Frist Art Museum on Broadway, which was once Nashville's main post office.
Many of Sunday’s demonstrators were current or former employees of USPS who said the White House's plans to potentially take away the agency's independence would have an impact on millions of jobs and people living in rural communities.
"It's not just about us and the jobs," said Steve Lassan with the National Association of Letter Carriers. "It's about the consumers we serve and those goods and services that reach out to them – baby formula, the medications – especially in the rural areas where this could affect 51 million addresses. They know. It's important to them. That's who we serve and that's who we want to protect also."
Trump's reported plans include potentially giving the Secretary of Commerce authority over the Postal Service. In his first term, Trump also floated the idea of privatizing USPS, which some workers said would have impacts on service.
"As a veteran, depending on my medicine to come through the VA and especially important documents from the VA, so I take that very seriously, making sure my customers get all their mail on time," said Kahlil Small, a USPS employee with the Memphis chapter.
USPS has been an independent establishment of the executive branch for more than 50 years, according to government officials.
Organizers of Sunday's event also told News 2 the proposed changes to USPS may be unconstitutional, adding that any restructuring of the Postal Service would likely need the support of Congress.
