Brian Bryant, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), addressed thousands at the “No Kings” rally in Savannah, Ga., on March 28. The event brought together labor, community, and pro-democracy activists to call for solidarity, economic justice, and political engagement among working people.
The rally took place as IAM Union member-activists gathered in Savannah for the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League Conference. This conference aims to mobilize union voters ahead of the 2026 elections. The No Kings coalition includes hundreds of groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Indivisible, MoveOn, Public Citizen, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and others.
Bryant highlighted IAM’s presence in Georgia where it represents tens of thousands of members at companies including Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors as well as Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and military bases across the state. He said: “Because this fight—this moment—this movement—should be everybody’s fight. We did not elect a dictator. We did not elect a king. And we are not going to let Donald Trump run this country like it’s his own personal business. He must follow the Constitution and the rule of law—just like every president before him.”
Reflecting on IAM’s origins in Atlanta in 1888 by railroad machinists standing up to corporate interests, Bryant said: “138 years later, we are still standing up and saying the same thing. Working people deserve dignity. We deserve respect. And we will not stay silent.”
Bryant also addressed current economic challenges facing working families: “We’re living in the richest country in the history of the world, yet working people are being told to do more with less while billionaires keep getting richer,” he said.
He emphasized that protecting democracy is central to their efforts: “Across this country, they are trying to make it harder for working people to vote,” Bryant said. “When working people organize and vote, we win… That’s not democracy—that’s fear of the people.”
Bryant encouraged continued action beyond voting: “Voting is critical—but voting alone is not enough… Because if working people aren’t at the table, we’re on the menu.” He also called for solidarity with other labor organizations: “If you see workers on strike—join them on the picket line… Solidarity isn’t just a word—it’s an action.”
