Peaceful ‘No Kings’ protest draws hundreds in Uptown Columbus
A No Kings Protest took place in Uptown Columbus Saturday as part of a coordinated movement across Georgia and the nation.
The demonstration drew a diverse crowd, with organizers reminding the attendees to remain peaceful and comply with police. They were also strongly advised not to engage with any counter-protesters. Organizers said 300 people signed in at the event.
Columbus’ event was one of many happening across the country. Together, the events were expected to draw millions of people, according to multiple media reports.
Columbus hosts one of many ‘No Kings’ protests
The “No Kings” protest was organized by the Columbus chapter of Indivisible, which is “a passionate non-partisan group focused and dedicated to building community, driving positive change and promoting social justice, protecting democracy, and fighting the Trump agenda,” the group says on its website.
Volunteers for the event were trained in deescalation and organizers made sure medics were on hand to help participants stay hydrated as they demonstrated amid heat and humidity.
Dan Veach, co-chairman of the outreach group of Indivisible, spoke of the event’s core mission.
“The power really resides with we, the people,” he said.
But he added, “One thing that disturbed us is the Columbus chief of police issued a public statement saying that this demonstration was partly organized by Antifa from Florida,” Veach said.
Veach was referencing a news release from the Columbus Police Department which described the event as “A demonstration in the 900 block of Broadway, organized by the Columbus GA Indivisibles and Phenix City AL Indivisibles under the banner ‘No Kings,’ with expected support from ColGay Pride and individuals affiliated with Antifa from Florida.
“We’re fully prepared for the weekend ahead,” Chief Stoney Mathis said in that news release prior to the weekend. “We welcome peaceful demonstrations and fully support the right to free speech. But we also have a responsibility to protect our community, and we will not allow violence or disorder to overshadow the events or endanger the public.”
Veach said he felt the public statement kept some people from attending.
“Friends and neighbors of ours have told us that they are afraid to attend this rally, because of the chief of police’s false and libelous, slanderous statement,” Veach said.
What the attendees were saying
Ike Alexander, a 77-year-old veteran wearing a hat that signaled his service, expressed frustration with President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I think we’re in a situation where we’ve got a guy who’s a legitimate con artist … I think that he has gone too far with his bamboozle,” Alexander said.
For Alexander Johns, who attended with a group waving pride flags, the stakes were deeply personal.
“All of the bills that they are passing connect all of us minorities in a way that needs to be defended,” Jons said. Pride was a riot. The LGBT community is always in protest of oppression.”
Sparse counter-protesters
There was very little counter-protesting, aside from a few vehicles passing by, shouting support for Trump. Additionally, a young Columbus resident named Noble Tillotson stood on the corner, away from the crowd, waving a Trump flag and wearing a hat in support of Trump.
Tillotson said he showed up “just to represent and show my face … for the people who come through here and they may not feel a place here because they may not agree with the politics, let them know that we’re over here and we’re existing peacefully with everybody, and you know, expressing our opinion, and we’re doing just fine.”
Safety, deescalation were prioritized
Organizers reiterated many times that this was a peaceful protest and that attendees were not to participate in any violence, and they must comply with law enforcement.
In addition to providing water and medical help, there was the presence of legal observers, such as Josh Lawton from the ACLU. Legal observers are volunteers that attend protests to add an extra set of eyes and ears to protests and foster accountability from law enforcement.
“If I see some sort of interaction between law enforcement and protesters, I’m simply there to document and witness what’s going on,” Lawton said. “And then I report back to ACLU on my observations.”
Law enforcement presence was visible, but hands-off
Local law enforcement maintained a visible presence at the event, with officers from CPD, Georgia State Patrol, and Public Safety stationed on nearby corners, rooftops, and accompanied by a canine unit in training.
Officers observed the proceedings from a distance and did not directly interact with demonstrators.
The demonstration ended peacefully, with participants dispersing by late afternoon. Organizers encouraged attendees to stay informed and involved as related legislation moves forward. No official statements of concern were issued by law enforcement.
Were you in attendance Saturday or do you have thoughts about the protest? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
This story was originally published June 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM.
