Brian Bryant, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), spoke on March 28 at the “No Kings” rally in Savannah, Georgia. The event brought together thousands of labor, community, and pro-democracy activists to call for solidarity, economic justice, and political engagement from working people across the country.
The rally took place as IAM Union member-activists gathered in Savannah for the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League Conference. There, union members organized efforts to mobilize 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. According to organizers, it is a movement representing Americans from diverse backgrounds united against concentrated power.
Bryant addressed both national concerns and local connections during his remarks. He noted that IAM represents tens of thousands of members in Georgia at companies like Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors as well as at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and military bases statewide. Bryant 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.”
He also referenced IAM’s founding in Atlanta by railroad machinists who demanded dignity and respect on the job: “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 highlighted economic challenges facing workers today: “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 further addressed threats to democracy: “Across this country, they are trying to make it harder for working people to vote,” said Bryant. He urged attendees not only to vote but also organize within their communities: “Voting is critical—but voting alone is not enough… Because if working people aren’t at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Bryant concluded by encouraging continued solidarity among labor organizations such as Georgia AFL-CIO and Savannah Central Labor Council: “If you see workers on strike—join them on the picket line… Solidarity isn’t just a word—it’s an action.”
