“No Kings” protests take place in metro Atlanta

Protesters gather at the overpass of Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta for a “No Kings” protest. Photo credit: Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow.

Thousands of Atlanta metro residents gathered on a hot and sunny Saturday for a “No Kings” protest taking place at the same time President Donald Trump was hosting a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army and his 79th birthday. In the morning, more than 5,000 people were at the Georgia State Capitol, joining dozens of other demonstrations across the state and the country.

Just 11 miles away from Chamblee Tucker Road, where people gathered to demand an end to ICE deportations, only to be met with force, protestors in spots around Atlanta, including at Atlantic Station, also showed their support for immigrants, as well as spoke out about about Diversity Equity and Inclusion, due process, trans rights, and against fascism.

“Use your voice; use your voice,” the crowds chanted as cars passed the 17th Street bridge of Atlantic Station, in midtown. “The people, united, will never be defeated” was another chant that they shouted as drums guided the pace of the chants.

Protesters held signs that read “Hands off due process”, “Education, not deportation,” and “No kings in America since 1776.” They did not try to block the bridge at any point, but there still was some police presence ensuring there were no attempts.

Valerie Davis, a student at Kennesaw State University, went to the protest in midtown to set the record straight about immigrants, she said. “In this political climate, there is a lot of misinformation going on about who immigrants are and what they bring to this country,” she said. “But at the end of the day, most, most immigrants come here because they want to live a good life. They want to live the American dream. That’s what this country was built on, the American dream, building, you know, a life for yourself and your family.

Valerie, 19, showing signs in support of immigrants at Atlantic Station’s No Kings protest.

Valerie, whose mom is from Guatemala, came with her girlfriend, who is originally from Mexico. She said they are both here looking for a better life and described them as “the best people I know.”

Allen, an animator, who didn’t want to share his last name, attended the rally because he was outraged by Trump’s Administration, he told 285 South. “I can’t stand this anymore,” he said as he held a sign with the drawing of a crown that read, Not now, Not here, Not ever.

“It’s been ridiculous since Trump was inaugurated in November last year; it’s been one thing after another. Our rights stripped away, everything that we care about, our immigrant communities, our farmers, our day laborers, people that we love and cherish in our communities, taken away, stripped away, families ripped apart,” Allen said. “This is not okay.”

As people chanted “hey hey, ho ho, we will not stop, we will not stop” in the background, Allen told 285 South that he was also at the protest because his parents receive Medicaid and Social Security, and he felt compelled to protest for them. “They’re Trump supporters, so I’m out here protesting to protect their services that they’re not willing to stand up and protect for themselves; I don’t want to see them harmed and thrown away; I don’t want to see them killed because of all of this.”

Allen also said he didn’t feel any fear. Instead, he was standing up to fight and make his voice heard.

Allen, 30, showing up his bicep as a sign of strength and his willingness to fight back, while holding a sign referring to the “No Kings” protest at Atlantic Station.

As the temperatures reached 84 degrees and people dripped with sweat, volunteers wearing fluorescent vests walked around the overpass to give away free water.

At the edge of the sidewalk, April Phillips, a marketing and public relations specialist for a nonprofit, was holding a sign that read “Our nation was founded by immigrants and revolution.” By her side was Kate, her neighbor, waving an American flag at cars passing by.

“There are so many things going on in the country right now, and one of the most egregious right now is what’s happening to undocumented immigrants,” April said. “Our country literally could not operate without them, but beyond just the effect on the economy and the workforce, they’re humans, and we are ripping humans from their families and from their communities, and that is not how you build community. That’s not what the US is founded on.”

April told 285 South that she showed up at the protest because she wanted to reclaim patriotism. “Being patriotic is not owned by Republicans or by ICE or anyone else; our country is our nation and is founded by we the people, the first words of the Constitution, and that means everything.”

“My sign says that our nation was founded by immigrants and revolution,” April Phillips told 285 South. “Revolution doesn’t have to be violent, so we’re not talking about the American Revolution, but we need a revolution. We need to come to terms with the fact that what’s happening in our country, on many levels, is not okay.”

At the gathering, there was one counter protester opposing those who came to the overpass, and called some of them “sinners”. While he read some verses of the Bible through a microphone and a speaker, other protesters chanted louder. Others tried to engage in verbal disputes with the man, who ignored them or asked them to step back from him. There was no physical altercation between the protesters and the man.