NO KINGS IN ATLANTA: Gerald Griggs Headlined Powerful Independence Day Rally.

“No Kings in America”: Gerald Griggs Headlines Powerful Independence Day Rally on the Atlanta BeltLine July 4th is supposed to be a celebration of freedom—but in Atlanta, hundreds gathered at the No Kings Rally to ask: freedom for who?

No Kings Rally Atlanta (photo credit Steve Eberhardt)

On Independence Day, while the rest of Atlanta cooled down after the annual Peachtree Road Race, the fight for freedom was just heating up along the Atlanta BeltLine. A growing crowd of activists, organizers, and everyday residents came together for the No Kings Rally, a powerful demonstration calling out corporate greed, political corruption, and rising inequality.

Set against the backdrop of one of Atlanta’s most vibrant public spaces, the BeltLine became the stage for a different kind of fireworks—a demand for real democracy.

At the center of the event was a searing keynote address by Gerald Griggs, civil rights attorney and President of the Georgia NAACP. Speaking to a passionate and diverse crowd still buzzing from the morning’s race, Griggs laid out a vision for a freer, fairer Georgia:

“We didn’t fight a monarchy just to replace it with millionaires and mega-donors. There are no kings in America—only people. And the people are rising.”

In a speech that drew on the legacies of the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Freedom Struggle, and today’s battles over voting rights and economic justice, Griggs connected the dots between past and present.

“The revolution didn’t stop in 1776—it continues every time someone challenges voter suppression, stands up to police violence, or organizes their community. And right here on the Atlanta BeltLine, that legacy lives on,” he declared.

The No Kings Rally was timed strategically—just hours after tens of thousands of Georgians ran through Midtown in the iconic Peachtree Road Race, a symbol of endurance and civic pride. Organizers of the rally tapped into that same spirit of perseverance to send a message: we are still running the race for justice.

Chants of “No kings! No kings!” echoed through the corridor as speakers lifted up issues like mass incarceration, gentrification, education cuts, and corporate control over politics. Yet despite the challenges, the mood was one of hope, unity, and determination.

“They want us tired. They want us cynical. But Atlanta doesn’t back down—we organize. We build. We rise,” said Griggs.

Gerald Griggs at No Kings Rally (photo credit Royce Soble)

As the sun began to set over the BeltLine, the rally left its mark—not just in powerful speeches and protest signs, but in the resolve of a city ready to keep pushing forward.

The No Kings Rally in Atlanta was a bold Independence Day gathering held along the Atlanta BeltLine, just hours after the iconic Peachtree Road Race. Organized by grassroots leaders and justice organizations, the rally challenged the growing influence of wealth, power, and political elitism in Georgia and beyond. With a central theme of rejecting modern-day monarchs—whether in government, corporations, or law enforcement—the event called for a renewed commitment to democracy, equity, and people-powered change. Featuring passionate speeches, music, and chants of “No Kings!,” the rally served as both a protest and a declaration: freedom must belong to the people, not just the powerful.