More Than 300 Attend Peaceful “No Kings” Protest in Paulding County
HIRAM, GA — On Saturday, more than 300 Paulding County residents gathered peacefully in Hiram as part of No Kings — a nationwide protest movement organized in direct response to President Trump’s planned birthday military display in Washington, D.C.
The event was one of the largest protests in recent county history and brought together a united coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents committed to rejecting authoritarianism and standing up for our democracy.
Speaking after the event, one attendee said: “It was just fantastic to see how many people showed up, and how many people are fighting for what they believe — and know — is right. It’s good to know that we’re not alone in this, and action is being taken!”
To those of you who joined us or showed support while driving by — thank you. Every sign, honk, wave, and raised fist reminded us that we are not alone in the fight for the survival of our country’s democracy.
Since his reelection, President Trump has continued his attacks on the democratic norms and institutions that our country is built upon. He has threatened to withhold federal funding from states that don’t align with his political agenda, and slashed benefits that millions of vulnerable Americans — including children, people with disabilities, and the elderly — rely on to survive.
He has broken up families through mass deportations while denying them due process, encouraged the prosecution of journalists, governors, and members of Congress, and issued executive orders that bypass Congress and defy court rulings. In short, his administration has repeatedly and consistently acted in ways that many legal scholars and advocacy groups consider unconstitutional.
But the threats we face go far beyond Trump himself — they come from a broader authoritarian movement determined to outlast him and rewrite the rules of our democracy. The movement behind Trump is extremely organized, heavily funded, and built to siphon money and power away from everyday people and concentrate it in the hands of the wealthy few.
If we want lasting change, protesting alone won’t get us there. We need to build the kind of grassroots infrastructure that can sustain and grow our countermovement over time.
If you showed up yesterday — or even if you didn’t! — the next step is getting organized. Join us for a meeting. Volunteer your time, even if it’s only an hour or two a month. Follow us online and share our posts with a friend. Whatever you can give, however you can show up, it matters.
Protests spark awareness, but this movement isn’t going to win because we care — it’s going to win because we’re coordinated, consistent, and connected.
We also want to thank the Hiram Police Department and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office for ensuring our ability to exercise our constitutional right to peacefully assemble, protest, and speak up.
