Thousands of anti-Trump protestors pack ‘No Kings’ protest outside Georgia’s Capitol 

This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. 

Some “No Kings” protesters around metro Atlanta got drenched by sudden showers Saturday, but the protests against President Donald Trump’s policies were well-attended and largely peaceful in Georgia, with the exception of an unaffiliated protest in Atlanta.

Atlanta

Minutes after Atlanta’s “No Kings” protest began Saturday outside the state Capitol, organizers announced that the venue’s 5,000-person capacity had been reached.

Another 3,000 people demonstrated outside Liberty Plaza, according to a police estimate. A small number of counter protesters were present, but no incidents or arrests were reported.

The demonstration was one of about two dozen protests planned in Georgia. Nationally, about 2,000 events were planned Saturday under the banner of “No Kings” day.

“It fills my heart. I’m so glad that people are here,” said Adam Zarett, an IT professional from Atlanta. “I’m glad to see so many people here standing up for our constitutional rights, making our voices heard. Like John Lewis, good trouble.”

Zarett said he wasn’t much for protests until recently.

“I didn’t even care about politics before Trump came into office the first time, and it stung then, and it is so much worse now,” he said. “It has just ignited a fire inside me that says you can’t just sit behind a keyboard and complain on Facebook all day. That just doesn’t do much. Sometimes it feels good, but it doesn’t do much.”

Now, Zarett says he’ll be back.

“I absolutely will. As many protests as there are, as many gatherings as there are, the people need to be heard,” he said.

Converting keyboard warriors to sign-wavers was part of the goal for “No Kings” organizers like Ezra Levin, cofounder of the progressive Indivisible organization.

Levin said ahead of the event that planning for the nationwide series of protests began when Trump announced a military parade in Washington, before protests in Los Angeles and a crackdown from the federal government became a national flashpoint.

The Washington event, which has come under fire for its projected cost of up to $45 million, coincided with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army and Trump’s 79th birthday.

“Trump can have his pathetic little party in D.C. We’re everywhere else,” Levin said. “We are flying American flags everywhere. We’re featuring veterans on stage. We’re showing up with patriotic zeal. Most importantly, we are showing up in force in red, blue and purple communities in defense of our constitutional rights.”

There was plenty of red, white and blue on display in Atlanta – some came dressed in patriotic colors, and others waved mini American flags handed out by volunteers. Some faces in the crowd turned red as well as the triple threat of sun, humidity and tightly packed bodies raised the temperature in the plaza. Volunteers handed out bottles of water and paper fans to help fight off the worst effects of the heat.

The name of the event is a reference to what opponents say is Trump’s desire to subvert democracy and rule as an autarch, but many signs made reference to a different kind of King – civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who called Atlanta home. Several protesters held signs saying King is the only king recognized in Atlanta.

Another genre of popular hometown signage paid tribute to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Firings at the public health agency became the local symbol of federal job cuts opponents characterize as harmful and chaotic.

Anna Yousaf, an infectious disease doctor who works with vaccines at the CDC, stood near the front of the crowd with members of Fired But Fighting, a coalition of terminated workers and their supporters. Yousaf said she came out to oppose Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who she said is undermining public trust in vaccines to deadly effect.

“Disinformation used to be coming from non-governmental sources,” she said. “Now, RFK Jr. is hijacking political organizations like the CDC, like the FDA, and using our name brand, if you will, to spread disinformation. And so people who would ordinarily go to a CDC resource for trusted information, now they’re going to get disinformation from the health secretary of the United States.”

“If he succeeds in his crusade to undermine vaccine confidence and restrict access, we will see thousands of people die, mostly children,” she added.

Yousaf and thousands of others listened and cheered as speakers took the stage to criticize the White House on policies ranging from mass immigration raids to laws targeting transgender Americans to U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Protesters dispersed peacefully around noon, with some lingering to bop along with a small marching band.

Not even an afternoon summer showed could dampen the spirit of protestors at other locations. Ink ran down the signs protesting Trump’s policies, soaking Atlantic Station demonstrators gathered on a bridge overlooking the I-75/I-85 Connector, one of Atlanta’s busiest roadways. Many continued to rally through the rain.

Marietta

Marietta protesters also powered through precipitation when the same storm doused their demonstration.

Hundreds gathered outside of City Hall near Marietta Square, braving the rain along four sidewalks in the busy historic downtown.

Demonstrators of all ages brought signs, megaphones and a variety of flags to show their solidarity against recent initiatives from the Trump administration.

Numerous signs and chants targeted immigration raids occurring across the country. Chants in both English and Spanish were collectively made in a call and repeat manner.

“No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state” and “Abolish ICE” were some of the most popular chants.

The demonstration elicited honks, waves and smiles from many motorists passing by.

Organizers stayed in communication with the Marietta Police Department, which closely monitored the crowd to ensure everyone stayed on the sidewalks and off the street.

David and Anne Whitted were two of Marietta’s proud protesters Saturday. Despite growing up protesting the Vietnam war, it’s been years since the couple, now in their seventies, made it out to a protest. They said that what’s happening in the country has gotten to a point where they can no longer quietly stay home.

“It’s despicable what they’re doing, shipping people off to other countries that they don’t even know, and separating families,” Anne Whitted said, referring to Trump’s immigration policies. “It’s crazy, and it’s a lunatic in the White House right now. So hopefully we can make some noise and get into some good trouble.”

McDonough

Hundreds of protesters lined up on sidewalks surrounding McDonough City Hall, holding signs and blaring chants denouncing Trump policies they described as antidemocratic.

“No Kings” protesters chanted “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” while holding signs with messages satirizing Trump and calling for due process and First Amendment rights.

The McDonough event was the first protest attended by Fayetteville’s Gavin Cleckler. 25, and Anna Giovingo, 27, who said immigrants make significant economic contributions across the nation but have been treated in ways they called inhumane.

Cleckler said he’s upset with the way the Trump-led immigration enforcement is targeting non-violent immigrants without regard to family members’ immigration status.

“The idea that simply being undocumented means that you deserve to be removed from this country without your family is a ridiculous concept that should be abandoned completely,” he said. “I personally hope that this will all eventually result in the abolishment of ICE.”

Bob Swygert of Stockbridge said he has a lot of problems with the way Trump has been conducting his second term, taking particular issue with his presidential pardons of people convicted of attacking police officers at the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

“It’s just the things that have been going on since Trump was elected president, from the way he ignores the Constitution, ignores the rule of law, and says horrible, nasty things about other human beings,” the 71-year-old retiree said.

Tear gas, arrests at unaffiliated protest

Other protests not affiliated with “No Kings” were scheduled for Saturday, including one at a shopping center in northeast Atlanta led by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“It’s good to get out and show that I don’t stand with the fascist pigs in power,” said Greg Drummond, an archivist from Gwinnett County while attending the “No Kings” protest at Liberty Plaza. “My main issue that I normally come out for is anti-capitalism. Unfortunately, I’m here with a bunch of capitalists, but I’m doing what we have to do here. I think actions later in the day will be more my speed.”

“The leftists and the liberals have to be allies until the revolution’s over, then we can hash out our differences,” he added. “But until then, we all have to stand strong against the fascism. If we let them rip us apart, then we’re all doomed, and we must stand up to it.”

The Party for Socialism and Liberation-organized protest Drummond was referring to began peacefully, but police deployed tear gas after they said some demonstrators stepped off the sidewalk and into the street, creating an unsafe situation in an attempt to march onto an interstate ramp. Some protesters disputed the police’s version of events. After the confrontation, heavily armored police swarmed a nearby shopping center threatening to arrest any protesters who did not disperse. The DeKalb County Police Department said at least eight people were arrested.

“The right to protest is fundamental and respected in DeKalb County,” said DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson in a statement. “But when a protest shifts from peaceful and law-abiding to one that threatens public safety and disregards lawful orders, I trust our officers to respond appropriately. Our duty is to protect both the rights of individuals and the wellbeing of the broader community.”