‘Standing up for democracy’: Atlanta ‘No Kings’ rally draws Trump critics ahead of US midterms – France 24
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ATLANTA, Georgia – “No Kings, Vote Now” was the theme of a rally in Atlanta, one of many organised across the US on Saturday. While many demonstrators denounced President Donald Trump’s policies, organisers said the rally was aimed at getting out the vote in the November 3 midterm elections and protecting democracy in America.
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Standing behind a big, blue “Defending Democracy” sign, Kelsea Bond addressed a gathering at a park in midtown Atlanta on Saturday at the start of a “No Kings” rally, one of many across the US, as the country prepares to go to the polls in the November 3 midterm elections.
“We need to build a society that works for the working class, not the billionaires,” said Bond.
“Yeah!” many in the crowd responded. “Right!” added a woman holding a “In 2026: Dump Trump” placard.
“We need an economy, we need a society that is democratically run by working people because we keep this economy running,” said Bond, a labour organiser, politician and elected member of the Atlanta City Council.
At 33, Bond is the youngest serving councillor and its first Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member. A political group championing progressive issues, the DSA is not a political party. Bond ran for the District 2 seat on the city council last year as an independent candidate.
DSA members are focused on getting the Democrats to address progressive issues, sparking headlines on differences between mainstream and left-wing camps within the party.
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But with a little over two weeks to go before election day, Bond is focused on issues that unite President Donald Trump’s critics.
“I’m here because we’re standing up for democracy in Georgia today,” Bond told FRANCE 24 in an interview as a few shoppers at a farmer’s market in another corner of the park strolled over to join the demonstration. “The Republicans, who have been in-charge for several decades in Georgia, have done a lot to roll back voting rights and attack the right to vote here in this state. Earlier in the summer, they were threatening to redraw our maps to favour Republicans. So, voting rights have very much been under attack in the state of Georgia.”
Some US states have redrawn congressional districts this year after an April 29 Supreme Court ruling enabled mid-cycle redistricting to give a political advantage to a particular party. These include a number of Republican “red” southern states in the US. In June, Georgia’s Republican state legislative leaders rejected a redistricting bid ahead of the November midterms for fear of a voter backlash against the party. But many Democrats fear the state’s Republican politicians will attempt to put the issue back on the agenda after the midterms.
“No Kings” protests erupted across the US after Trump, in February 2025, posted an AI-generated image of himself as a monarch on a fake “Time” magazine cover. A number of these anti-Trump protests have drawn large gatherings in major US cities. But the purpose of Saturday’s mobilisation was more targeted, according to organisers.
“The intention behind this is more of a community engagement, to get people excited about the midterm elections. The aim is to encourage people to not only get out and vote – hopefully vote early – but to also get to know their neighbours and take their neighbours with them to polling locations,” said Kimberly Diemert, communications director for 50501 Georgia, one of many community groups that worked together to organise the rally.
“By breaking up the larger mass events into smaller events, we’re able to gather people at a community location and walk them to a polling place,” Diemert added.
At the Atlanta rally, the gathering of around 300 people marched roughly a mile from the historic Piedmont Park down to St. Mark’s, a local church. The city’s police force secured the route, holding back traffic as protesters followed a lively street band at the head of the rally belting out rousing tunes.
The atmosphere was defiant, but not menacing, with the crowd including grannies and toddlers in strollers. Protesters carried signs denouncing many of Trump’s policies – at times in profane terms.
“There are so many transgressions and terrible things that this administration is doing on a daily basis. But ICE is possibly the most evil and disgusting of all,” said 37-year-old Daniel, holding a “Fuck Ice” sign.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency was a frequently cited target of ire at Saturday’s rally.
“I’m really tired of what’s going on in America. And when I see people being rounded up by ICE, immigrants who have been here for a long time, it just makes me really, really sad. I want change,” said Piper White.
Trump’s foreign policies also came under attack, with one banner, shaped like a Russian doll, featuring a caricature of Trump. The cardboard cut-out split at the belly with a lever to reveal a sinister photograph of Russian President Vladimir Putin lurking inside Trump’s tummy.
“It’s Donald Trump and Putin in a matryoshka doll thing – showing that they’re working together. If I had room I would have put another in there, like Elon Musk maybe,” said Marilyn, who declined to provide her surname. “Foreign policy is one of the most important issues in this election. I’m completely against the war in Iran and I support Ukraine,” she explained.
Mark Spivey said he was “disgusted” with Trump’s war in Iran. “All the taxpayer money that we contribute to the system, you’re taking it to get into a foreign war,” he said. “Prices are higher. Inflation is higher. We’re in a war – an endless war. It was supposed to last a couple of weeks, three weeks, four weeks, six weeks. We’re over eight months into this war now, and there’s no end in sight.”
By lunchtime, the rally had reached St. Mark’s church, where organisers asked protesters if they would like to volunteer as election observers. For those who replied in the affirmative, a workshop on election protection and observation was held inside the church.
“We just want to make sure that this is a free and fair election where everyone’s vote counts,” said Trish Murphy from Necessary Action Georgia, a grassroots political action group based in Atlanta. “In the past, there have been accusations that some elections were not fair. But they were,” she noted, referring to, but not explicitly citing, Trump’s allegations that he won the 2020 vote against Joe Biden. “So, this time, we want to make sure that everyone observes, and to make sure that there is no election interference.”
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