Brian Bryant, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), addressed thousands of labor, community, and pro-democracy activists at the “No Kings” rally in Savannah, Ga., on March 28. The event was part of a broader effort to encourage solidarity, economic justice, and political participation among working people nationwide.
The rally coincided with the IAM’s Machinists Non-Partisan Political League Conference in Savannah. There, union members organized to mobilize voters ahead of the 2026 elections. The No Kings coalition includes hundreds of community 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. Organizers say it is a movement representing Americans from diverse backgrounds who oppose concentrated power by individuals or corporations.
Bryant highlighted that IAM represents tens of thousands of workers in Georgia across companies like Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors as well as at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and military bases. He referenced IAM’s origins: “138 years later, we are still standing up and saying the same thing,” said Bryant. “Working people deserve dignity. We deserve respect. And we will not stay silent.”
Bryant also criticized economic inequality: “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 warned about threats to democracy through efforts that make voting harder for working people: “When working people organize and vote, we win. So instead of changing their ideas, they’re trying to change the rules. That’s not democracy—that’s fear of the people.” He urged attendees to remain active beyond Election Day by organizing locally or running for office themselves.
Concluding his remarks on solidarity within labor organizations like Georgia AFL-CIO and Savannah Central Labor Council Bryant said: “If you see workers on strike—join them on the picket line… Solidarity isn’t just a word—it’s an action.”
