Hundreds gathered in Warner Robins for nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ rally

WARNER ROBINS – Chants were heard, signs were held, and people united at Perkins Field on Saturday, June 14, for a nationwide “No Kings Day” movement to speak out against President Donald Trump’s administration and policies.

No Kings Day coincided with the Military Parade held in Washington, D.C., to mark the Army’s 250th birthday and celebrate Trump’s 79th birthday. According to the Associated Press, approximately 2,000 protests were scheduled across the country. According to NPR, over five million people participated in nationwide protests. 

Here in Warner Robins, a thunderstorm did not deter the crowd or lower their chants. Before the storm, 300 people were at Perkins Field, and 71 people returned, according to Kristen Kiefer, protest organizer and chair of the Houston County Democrats.

Kiefer said the basic idea of the rally was to reject Authoritarianism – a political system where one person has all the power, which suppresses political freedom. She said people across the nation believe this is where America is headed. 

Another goal of the movement was to reject “billionaire rule” and the idea that any person, including the President, is above the people, Kiefer said.

“While he hosts his hundred-million-dollar birthday parade in [Washington] D.C., people will gather in cities across the country to remind him that we don’t have kings in America,” she said.

Kiefer wanted to bring this movement to her city because she believes people are seeing a lot happening across the country. She said she felt it was time. 

Personally, Kiefer shared she has been following discussions about cuts made to health programs, such as Medicaid. Without Medicaid, she believes she would not be here to organize the rally, and the insurance program is the reason she is alive.

“That’s why I’m here. It just seems unfair to the American people that we need to make these huge cuts to the programs, like Medicaid, that we pay into, but we can have [a] hundred-million-dollar parade,” she said.

Kiefer believes the country has a president who is ignoring court orders, cutting programs, and using anti-immigration policy to detain American citizens and that it has gone too far.

She believes the public should be aware, especially in a military community like Warner Robins. Kiefer said Robins Air Force Base employs many civilians, but federal job cuts have affected the lives of her friends, neighbors, and family members.

“I feel like we should all be paying attention to what’s happening because it deeply affects our community,” she said.

Kiefer clarified that the rally was not to protest against the Army celebrating its birthday. As a child of a military parent, she has strong support for the military, and she believes Trump should have also celebrated the Navy and Marines, which had their 250th birthdays this year.

“It is specifically about the authoritarian-esque action. We’re going to see tanks roll down Constitution Avenue in front of the White House. That’s not a thing here,” she said. 

Kiefer anticipated a peaceful demonstration. She received a permit from the city and coordinated with the Warner Robins Police Department to ensure its safety. 

Kiefer clarified she had an excellent working relationship with law enforcement and did not expect any issues similar to those that occurred in Los Angeles, which had been a concern leading up to the rally. She said they wanted people to come out and bring their voices, which they did.

“The goal is just to amplify our collective voices but do so in a way that is safe and peaceful,” she said.

Kiefer hopes the demonstrations send a message to the government to work for the people. 

“We want our government to hear us. Things like Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP and Medicare, that is what we want our tax dollars to pay for,” she said. “We want our government to uphold the rule of law and we want essentially to restore accountability and to put the American people first.”