Thousands rally against Trump at Atlanta ‘No Kings’ protests

There was a heavy police presence in the area, and a small group of counter-protesters in attendance. 

Protester Kate Shapiro brought her three-year-old daughter to Liberty Plaza.

“It’s so important for my child from jump to be able to understand that there are people across race, place, identity that are fighting and building a better world for her to inherit and for us to be about to live in,” she said. 

Sixty-seven-year-old Deborah Hill said two of her siblings voted for Trump, and it’s been hard to reckon with.

“They were fooled twice,” she said, “But they’re going to feel it now when Social Security disappears, when all this other stuff starts getting taken away from them.”

Still, Hill said to treat everyone with kindness and forgiveness, something that, in her opinion, the current administration doesn’t understand.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia was among the speakers at the Liberty Plaza protest.

Police deploy tear gas on protesters in Embry Hills

About 15 miles away, on Chamblee Tucker Road in Embry Hills, another protest began Saturday afternoon. Hundreds strong, these demonstrators were focused on immigration, joining what was billed as the “Atlanta Protest Against Deportation.”

Lupe Miranda is an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. 

“I am here today because I come from a legacy of immigrants. And I am proud of my legacy,” Miranda said. 

“My parents, along with everybody here, do you guys see any criminals?” she asks the crowd, “No! The real criminals are in the White House.”

Nancy Harter said she came to the protest to speak for those who can’t.

“So I’m here as a U.S. citizen to speak up for those who are being silenced right now. I want them to know that there are people here for them and fighting for them.”

The protest was largely peaceful, but at one point a group marched toward I-285 and was blocked by officers from multiple jurisdictions. After a 15-minute warning to get off the road, officers tossed multiple tear gas canisters into the crowd.

The protest dispersed shortly thereafter. DeKalb police arrested at least eight protesters, according to the county.

“The right to protest is fundamental and respected in DeKalb County,” said CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson in a press release. “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 well-being of the broader community.”

Georgia lawmakers to attend military parade in D.C.

The nationwide “No Kings” protests were timed to take place the same day as a military parade in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary — which coincides with Trump’s birthday.

The protests are to counter what organizers say are Trump’s plans to feed his ego on what is also his 79th birthday and Flag Day.

The Army birthday celebration had already been planned. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to ratchet up the event to include 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets. He has long sought a similar display of patriotic force. Large-scale military parades are not part of U.S. tradition.

U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rich McCormick of Georgia plan to be in D.C. on Saturday for the parade, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.

Protests in nearly 2,000 locations are scheduled around the country, from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, according to the No Kings website.

The main Atlanta rally was held at Liberty Plaza near the state Capitol starting at 10 a.m. Other rallies were held that day on the 17th Street Bridge in Midtown, on Chamblee Tucker Road in Embry Hills and at Northlake Festival Shopping Center in Tucker. Over 30 protests were planned across the state.

Georgia leaders warn against violence at protests

Gov. Brian Kemp wrote in a social media post on Wednesday that he respects the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, but warned that any violence against law enforcement will be met with “quick and heavy accountability.”

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr threatened domestic terrorism charges for anyone who incites violence during Saturday’s protests.

In a statement, Carr said all Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but not to destroy property or attack law enforcement. He also said that violence “for the purpose of changing public policy” can be considered domestic terrorism and carry a sentence of up to 35 years in prison.

“We are not California or New York,” Carr said. “We are Georgia. We don’t make excuses for criminals here. We prosecute them.”

Immigrant advocates have called Carr’s threat of domestic terrorism charges a scare tactic.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia warned that Trump wants an excuse to label protests as violent so he can declare martial law.

“He wants the story to be about police cars burning,” he said at a healthcare rally on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. “Don’t burn police cars. We need law enforcement every now and then; we’ve got to challenge them, but we need law enforcement.”

Brookhaven Police arrested six individuals and deployed tear gas after a demonstration on Buford Highway on Tuesday. Police say some people stuck around after an earlier peaceful protest broke up and began throwing rocks and firework mortars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.