Macon residents gathered at Rosa Parks Square to protest the Trump administration on March 28, 2026. The organizers, Macon Rising, Macon Trouble and the League of Women voters hosted speakers and led the crowd in chants that echoed across in the roughly 3,000 other “No Kings” protests nationwide Saturday.
McKenzie Lawyer-Davies, a volunteer for Macon Rising, had been a volunteer for around a year before Saturday’s rally, which was her fourth with the group. She emphasized the importance of bringing the Macon community together for a greater cause.
One of the founding members of Macon Rising, She Keene, organized the rally with members of Macon Trouble and the League of Women Voters. The group’s mission, its website says, is to protect democracy and ensure it works for everyone regardless of their identity. They do this through protests, rallies and other civic actions.
“I believe in democracy and I believe in our constitution,” Keene said. “Since the new administration took over, our constitutional rights are being violated.”
Protests like this are important, Keene said, because she believes everyone should have the space to speak.
The protestors chanted and welcomed speakers. A majority of protestors were elderly but some students and protestors under the age of 40 were also represented.
Current events like the shootings in Minneapolis by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the war in Iran and consequences of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump prompted Mercer student Nylah Anderson ‘28 to protest, she said.
“I’m tired and angry,” Anderson said. “I feel like I want to do something and be heard in some way.”
Speakers like Marty Coplin, a founding member of Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us), Mia Robbins-Aguilar, co-founder of Middle Georgia 4 Choice and State Sen. Josh McLaurin were given applause.
As Bibb County Sheriff David Davis was introduced to the crowd of roughly 300, about a dozen members of the Middle Georgia chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America chanted against Macon Rising and Davis. They called the organization “bootlickers” while Macon Rising volunteers attempted to quiet the crowd.
After taking the microphone, Mercer political science professor Lori Johnson tried to quell the alarm and told protesters to “hear him out” before being drowned out by DSA.
As the younger, DSA crowd and members of Macon Rising continued to go back and forth, a member of Macon Rising thanked the crowd for coming and announced the end of the protest.
Julie Colton, a former Mercer student and current co-chair of the local DSA, explained she felt Macon Rising went against the spirit of the protest by giving Davis time to speak.
“Both Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have called for a federal investigation on the jail because of the persistent and horrific conditions there,” Colton said. “David Davis is responsible for the administration of that jail.”
Colton said the DSA told Macon Rising prior to the protest that if they allowed Davis to speak, there would “be problems for them.”
She said that people do not like Davis, who she believes is a threat to the community. She also said other Black organizations and progressive organizations told Macon Rising to not invite Davis because it would actively damage Macon Rising’s reputation.
“If you do things that the community disagrees with, they are going to express that,” Colton said.
Davis spoke afterwards about the interruption.
“There are other kings that we need to worry about, that we need to be involved in,” Davis said. “As we see here, we see a king of dissension to come into this peaceful rally and basically stop it.”
Davis said he was disappointed, but he understands the DSA’s concerns for their community.
“A few weeks ago, a coalition of local organizations met with Sheriff David Davis to better understand how his office would respond if ICE activity increases in our community. During that conversation, we specifically asked if he would be willing to speak directly to the public at future town halls or community events, and he agreed,” Macon Rising said in a statement prepared before the protest. “Our decision to invite him to speak at the rally is rooted in that commitment to public accountability and direct communication.”
