LIVE BLOG: No King protesters want to help country 'find its way back home'

ATLANTA - Dozens of "No Kings" protests are taking place around metro Atlanta and Georgia today. Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Atlanta, Marietta, Clairmont Lake, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, McDonough, Fayetteville and other areas.

1:15 P.M. PASSIONATE PROTEST IN MCDONOUGH

Protesters also gathered near McDonough City Hall on Saturday after earlier events in Griffin as part of a coordinated, multi-city effort across Georgia. Organizers said about 450 people showed up at the McDonough stop.

One of the organizers, a woman named Irene, told FOX 5 Atlanta that they are aimed at reaching people beyond major cities. "It’s important to reach out… throughout our state. If they’re in rural areas, if they're in suburban areas. If they are being hurt by this administration. So we want to tell the people in all the communities we’re behind you. We’re going to help the country find its way back home," Irene said.

They also pointed to growing turnout and a broader coalition of supporters. "The crowds have been growing. The number of protests have been growing, a great deal. And what we’re seeing is more and more diversity in terms of the people who come to the protest… we’re actually seeing a lot of Republicans who are coming out to be in the protests as well," according to Irene. 

The group said it hopes the protests inspire civic action, particularly at the ballot box. "What we’re hoping for is that the people who are passing by, the people who are in the protest, will go home and say, you know, I saw this sign or I saw that sign and that’s an issue for me, and I’m concerned about that, and most importantly and I’m going to vote in the upcoming election. That’s the most important thing. Get registered and vote," Irene concluded.

12:35 P.M. CONCERNED ABOUT RANGE OF ISSUES 

Protesters continued marching around the Georgia State Capitol as part of the "No Kings" demonstrations, with law enforcement blocking roads and rerouting traffic to keep the route clear. Officers from Atlanta police and Georgia State Patrol were stationed along Memorial Drive and Capitol Avenue to ensure safety as the crowd moved through the area.

Participants said a range of issues brought them out, including foreign policy concerns, high gas prices and the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting TSA operations. The demonstration marked the third "No Kings" protest in Atlanta, following earlier events in June and October.

Some attendees said they plan to keep returning. One protester said, "No reason to have a king and the administration we have now," adding, "I’ve been at every demonstration there’s been and we’ll continue to do that to express my thoughts." Another said, "Everything is so messed up right now… we have to get in the streets and tell everybody we have to… we have to stop."

12:15 P.M. WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE

"No Kings" protests continued across metro Atlanta as part of a broader nationwide movement, with organizers and demonstrators gathering throughout the morning. 

The White House has largely dismissed the protests. Officials earlier this week referred to them as "Trump derangement therapy sessions," adding, "The only people who care about these… are the reporters who are paid to cover them." President Donald Trump has also pushed back on the movement previously, saying, "I think it is a joke… I’m not a king… I’m not a king at all."

Despite that response, organizers say turnout continues to grow, with previous demonstrations drawing millions nationwide. Observers noted this latest round appeared more coordinated online, with messaging emphasizing that the protests are peaceful and encouraging continued participation across multiple platforms.

12 P.M. MARCH TO GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL

Thousands of protesters marched around the Georgia State Capitol late Saturday morning as part of the latest "No Kings" protest, organized by groups including the Indivisible Georgia Coalition and the ACLU. The crowd moved along Washington Street after gathering for a rally in a nearby green space.

Participants said they were motivated by a desire to protect democracy and remain engaged. One protester said, "Keep our democracy. To help others to know that this is our country, and we got it because we care and we have to keep showing that we care," adding, "we’ve got to keep showing consistently that we care and not let somebody else do it."

Another protester described the urgency of continued action, saying, "we’re at a crisis point," and "We have to stand up and fight today." The march remained peaceful, with officers seen monitoring and directing traffic as demonstrators completed a loop around the Capitol.

11:15 A.M. PROTESTERS RALLY IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

Protesters are also saying that frustrations with global conflicts, economic concerns and domestic policies is driving people to join the ongoing "No Kings" protests.

Several attendees said they plan to continue showing up. "Every demonstration… we’ll continue to do that to express my thoughts," one woman said, while another added, "everything is so messed up right now… we have to get in the street and tell everybody we have to stop."

Meanwhile, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon pushed back on the protests, saying "the real threat to our Republic… [is] unelected federal judges" who "impose their ideology from the bench." Demonstrators are expected to march to the Capitol as part of the continued protest effort.

11 A.M. PROTESTERS GATHER IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

Protesters have gathered near the Georgia State Capitol as part of nationwide "No Kings" protests, calling for an end to injustice and raising concerns about the state of democracy.

Participants and organizers said the movement is focused on protecting democratic institutions and encouraging continued civic engagement. "What we’re seeing right now is a pattern of attacks on our rights, our freedoms and our democratic institutions," one protester said, adding that people are "choosing to show up instead of staying silent."

The protest has remained peaceful so far, with a visible but limited police presence and some road closures near the Capitol. 

10:30 A.M.

The rally is underway at Memorial Green. It appears that a few hundred people are gathered and various speakers are on stage. After the rally, the protesters are planning a short march to the Georgia State Capitol. SKYFOX 5 is flying over the area. 

9 A.M. INDIVISIBLE GEORGIA PRESS CONFERENCE

The day began with a press conference by the Indivisible Georgia Coalition and ACLU of Georgia. It was announced during the press conference that organizers are expecting up towards 30,000 people to participate in today's events, which include a rally at the Memorial Green in downtown Atlanta followed by a short march around the Georgia State Capitol.

The press conference featured several prominent voices in the local activism scene, including Laura Judge of the Indivisible Georgia Coalition and Christopher Bruce, the Deputy Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia.

‘No Kings’ protests across metro Atlanta Saturday | What to know

The timing of the protest is significant, as Georgia prepares for upcoming elections that will see various judicial seats—including the state Supreme Court—on the ballot. Leaders urged citizens to remain engaged beyond the march by voting in every election and supporting civil rights organizations.

8:30 A.M. PROTESTERS GATHER IN GRIFFIN

Griffin is the location for one of more than 50 protests today in the state of Georgia. As of early Saturday morning, a handful of participants had gathered on East Taylor Street, but more are expected to arrive.

FOX 5 Atlanta spoke to Michael Shane, co-founder of Southern Crescent Indivisible, who noted that the movement is finding surprising traction in traditionally conservative "red" counties.

"People appreciate the fact that we’re here," Shane said. "They don’t always expect us to be here in these Southern counties. We get some negative responses—sometimes the 'one-finger salute'—but we also get a lot of thumbs up and people driving by saying 'Thank you.'"

Organizers have placed a heavy emphasis on safety and peaceful engagement. "Safety managers" were seen patrolling East Taylor Street to ensure protesters stayed off the curbs and out of traffic.

Shane’s advice for those joining the movement is simple: do not engage with agitators.  "You’re not going to change someone’s mind while they're driving by in two seconds," Shane said. "If people yell inappropriate things, our response is to wave, smile, and let them go. The worst thing you can do is interact. Our first priority is safety."

After gathering on East Taylor Street, the group is expected to move their demonstration near a local McDonald's to increase visibility.