DALTON — Over a hundred people marched through downtown Dalton on Saturday to rally against President Donald Trump’s policies and what they see as the erosion of democracy.
The permitted gathering, which began outside the Whitfield County Courthouse a little before noon, was organized in concert with over 2,000 “No Kings” protests taking place across the country in opposition to myriad issues including immigration raids in major cities to the prosecution of the President’s political enemies.
“We’ve lived long enough to see the worst and we don’t want to see it again,” said Mary Etta Sanders, who was at the rally with her husband, Drayton. Both are in their 80s and said the current political climate reminds them of the World War II era.
“The worst thing (Trump) is doing is demanding that people he doesn’t like be indicted, tried” Mrs. Sanders said. “Nobody does that except an autocrat, a dictator.”
Protesters march through downtown Dalton, Ga. in opposition to Trump
For about an hour, a majority of the gathered protesters marched in a counter-clockwise loop from the courthouse, along W. Crawford Street, Jones Street, W. Waugh Street and eventually past N. Hamilton Street at the heart of Dalton’s historic downtown.
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They carried signs that said, “They blame immigrants so you won’t blame billionares,” “Uncle Sam and Aunt Tifa together since 1776” and “This Vietnam veteran says ‘Dump Trump.'” They chanted anti-Trump slogans as they marched. Some passersby honked and waved in support.
Carla and Steve Teasley stood across the street from the lawn where “No Kings” protesters had gathered holding a Trump sign and an American flag. Mr. Teasley said they showed up to remind the protesters that others disagree.
“If (Trump) was a king, our federal government wouldn’t be shut down right now,” Mr. Teasley said. “If there was a king, there wouldn’t be no protest out here because they’d cut your head off.”
Dalton’s substantial carpet manufacturing industry has drawn many immigrants, primarily from Latin America, to the city in recent decades. More than half, 53%, of the city’s population is Hispanic, according to census data collected in 2020.
Trump won Whitfield County by a whopping 45 percentage points in last year’s election.
MaKray Kyer, the chairman of the Whitfield County Republican Party, shared a statement he said was on behalf of himself and the county Republican Party.
“We respect the right to protest, and that freedom is part of what makes our country strong,” the statement emailed on Friday said. “But not every protest is grounded in truth or good intent. America does not have kings; we have elections. The people voted, the results were certified, and Donald Trump was duly elected president in 2024. These so-called ‘No Kings’ protests are based on a false premise and only divide our communities and increase hatred. This area is solidly behind President Trump, and these protests are not reflective of the majority of citizens in Whitfield County.”
State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, said he supports protesters’ First Amendment rights, even if he doesn’t agree with them.
“I have no problem with peaceful protests. In fact, that’s the bedrock of a democracy,” he said in an emailed statement on Friday. “While I might not agree with your motives, I do agree that you have the right to express them.”
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Armida Vicente, who organized the rally, has been coordinating with a small group of Dalton residents to host regular protests.
“What motivated me most is my family,” Vicente said. “I come from a long line of immigrants who worked hard and sacrificed so much so that I could have a better future. And because of them, I am who I am today, and I wanted to do something that honors their strength and resilience, and to stand up for others in my community who may feel unheard or are afraid to speak up.”
In recent months, Vicente has spearheaded several anti-Trump rallies, including one in July to raise money for the family of a man who was deported and one in June that was also organized in consort with a previous round of “No Kings” protests.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, Ga. who represents Dalton in Congress, did not respond to a request for comment on the protests in her home district.
Greene has been a close ally of Trump’s, but more recently has been critical of the Republican stance on health care subsidies at the heart of the ongoing federal shutdown.
Contact Report for America corps member Jules Feeney at jfeeney@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.