SAG-AFTRA meeting brings Georgia's non-union actors in solidarity to the forefront

Hundreds of union members and supporters packed into IATSE Local 479's Union Hall to rally in support of SAG-AFTRA on Monday, July 17th. The union, which represents actors, announcers, puppeteers, voiceover artists and other media professionals have joined a picket line already held for two months by the Writer's Guild of America. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Union members greeted incoming supporters with a smile Monday evening, welcoming people into the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees meeting hall in Clayton County.

One of the event’s volunteers, Diany Rodriguez, a SAG-AFTRA member, said the turnout was so impressive they ran low on name tags.

“We ran out of name tags; we ran out of sign-up sheets. It’s a wonderful problem to have,” said Rodriguez. “I think there are at least 1,500 people here, I think….we were like, ‘if we got a hundred people, that’s a big deal.'”