Athens “No Kings” protest draws thousands

The following was submitted by Indivisible Georgia District 10:

Around 3,000 people gathered in Athens on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests, which drew an estimated 5million Americans into the streets across the nation to protest against the Trump administration.

Citizens from across Georgia’s Congressional District 10 braved a severe thunderstorm and drenching rain to stand along Broad Street in Athens across from the University of Georgia campus waving protest signs before gathering in College Square to hear speakers, music and comedy.

“We are here to say we love America and we are going to fight for America,” said Michael Thurmond, the rally’s featured speaker and the former elected Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County and former state Labor Commissioner. “I still believe in the American dream.  I have not lost hope in America.”

Thurmond encouraged the crowd to not allow others to divide them from each other, whether gay or straight, Black or White, college-educated or not college-educated, urban or rural, urging them to “lock arms together.”

Protesters and the signs they carried expressed many reasons for joining the rally. ““I want to be part of something and what I have been doing isn’t enough,” said Breanna Griswold, a recent UGA Graduate, who was carrying a sign reading “We were born from rebellion. We will not die in silence.” Other protest signs carried messages like “Hands Off all of my Hispanic friends,” and “First Rally in my 73 years. Love the USA. No King!”

Breanna Griswold

The GA Congressional District 10 “No Kings, No Clowns” protest was organized by a coalition of seven organizations. Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee, Coalition of Athens Scientists; Indivisible GA 10, International Union of Operating Engineers, Oconee County Democratic Committee, Third Act Georgia, and United Campus Workers Georgia.

“Indivisible Georgia 10 covers the whole congressional district and many people came from all around the district to share their love for America and the democracy on which it was founded,” said Barb Burt, co-leader of Indivisible GA 10.  “They will not be silenced or ignored.”

The spirit of the rally was upbeat, with many participants carrying flags and joining in singing the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Despite the bad weather, few people left the protest and some lingered to wave signs at passing cars for nearly an hour after the rally ended.

“As I looked across the crowd of our community, standing in the rain and made up of people of all ages, shapes, sizes and colors, I found myself tearing up repeatedly,” said Rick Burt, Co-Leader of Indivisible Georgia 10.  “We stood together to state clearly and loudly that what we see happening to our country is not right.  Together we spoke for unity and hope for what we know this country can be once again.”