Karin Parham – Editor

60 Attend Veteran-Led “March for Democracy” Rally in Augusta

Augusta, Ga-

A veteran-led “March for Democracy” rally in Augusta on Saturday drew roughly 60 participants. It was part of a coordinated national day of action that included a march in Washington, D.C., and parallel events across the country.

Organizers with 50501 Augusta said the event had been in planning for roughly a month and was not organized specifically in response to recent U.S. military strikes involving Iran, despite some early local characterizations suggesting otherwise.

“We started planning this about a month ago,” said Zee Cook, lead organizer with 50501 Augusta and Secretary of 50501 Veterans, in an on-site interview. The rally was part of a nationwide veteran-led effort, Cook said, with a central march in Washington and local events for those unable to travel.

Cook acknowledged that foreign policy developments were discussed from the stage but said the broader purpose was constitutional accountability and civic engagement. The group is urging residents to contact elected officials at the state and federal levels, and demand oversight.

“We want politicians held accountable,” Cook said, encouraging attendees to call their senators, representatives, the governor, and the White House.

Cook also emphasized that rapid-response protests are difficult to mobilize on short notice. “People have lives. They have jobs,” Cook said, noting that previous attempts to quickly gather demonstrators had drawn much smaller crowds.

The organization describes itself as nonviolent and focused on preserving constitutional checks and balances, with specific campaign priorities still being refined. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta.

Veterans and Candidates Take the Stage

Leonard Hennessey, a veteran running for Georgia House District 125, acknowledged the unease many attendees were feeling. He asked the crowd how many were concerned or afraid about current events, and urged steadiness rather than panic. “Have faith in this great country. Have faith in the Constitution. Have faith in yourselves,” Hennessey said, closing with a direct call to civic participation: “Get out and vote.”

Tony Ragin, a 22-year military veteran running for Georgia Senate District 23, framed the moment as a test of democratic engagement. “We need a whole lot of people to step up, use your right to vote because you can’t separate democracy without the people,” Ragin said. He also criticized ongoing military engagements, stating, “We’re in wars right now that we shouldn’t be in.”

A Competitive Local Election Cycle

Cambrey Wood, who is running for Chair of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, told the crowd that this year marks a significant change in local politics. Wood said that for the first time in nearly 40 years, Republicans will face Democratic challengers in every county-level race on the ballot this year.

Wood emphasized constitutional principles and accountability. “No leader is above the law, and no office is beyond accountability,” she said. She urged attendees to turn enthusiasm into sustained civic engagement. “Convert your action into service. Service for your neighbors, service for your community, service for your government and your Constitution,” Wood said.

Columbia County Democratic Committee Chairman Parin Amin also addressed the crowd, along with several other candidates and community organizers.

Economic Concerns and Representation

Lafon Pinckney-Mealing, running for Georgia House District 130, focused her remarks on economic inequity and low voter participation. “In the district that I live in, there are 60,000 people. Less than 40,000 are registered to vote. Typically this race, people win less than 2,000 votes. That’s crazy,” she said. Pinkney-Mealing argued that low turnout allows small margins to determine representation and urged attendees to treat voting as both a right and a responsibility. “The government belongs to us,” she said.

She also criticized Georgia’s wage policies and broader economic conditions, saying public policy should remove barriers rather than create them, and pledged to focus her campaign on education funding, healthcare access, housing stability, and economic opportunity.

Participation as the Throughline

Across speeches and interviews, the message was consistent: protest alone is not enough. Speakers and organizers repeatedly urged attendees to vote, volunteer, call elected officials, and remain engaged beyond a single afternoon event.

As Ragin put it, “You can’t separate democracy without the people.”

 

Publisher’s Note: GCG is so excited to welcome Karin Parham as one a new Editor! She is well known to local readers in Augusta and has traditionally focused on libararies and Columbia County, but I don’t think anything could stop her from following a good story wherever it goes. We are so excited to have her join us and look forward to everything she’s going to contribute going forward! I’ll let her introduce herself soon.