Johnson: The coalition pouring into Alabama scares Republicans to death

This is an opinion column.

"Not our fight." I heard that phrase for a long time. I heard it throughout the previous summer and fall when Alabamians participated in the national "No Kings" rallies, gathering in over a dozen cities from the Gulf to the Tennessee line to protest Donald Trump. It was a movement focused on his policies, his authoritarian streaks, and his ego. But as those protests hit Birmingham this past March, the crowds were overwhelmingly white, leaving many to wonder: Where were the African Americans?

It is a fair question, especially considering how much this administration has disparaged the Black community and the disproportionate impact of federal workforce purges. Yet, in 2024, Kamala Harris captured 86% of the Black vote, while 57% of white voters chose Trump. According to Pew Research Center, almost eight in 10 Trump voters were white. The disconnect was palpable, but the tides are shifting.

A New Movement Takes Root

Last week, the atmosphere changed as buses rolled into the Alabama State House. These protesters were focused on the assault on Black voting power and the push to remove Alabama's two Black Democrats from the congressional delegation. This mobilization was led by Black Voters Matter and bolstered by organizations like the ACLU of Alabama, HICA, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. While participants were predominantly Black, they weren't alone.

Celsa Stallworth, organizing manager at the ACLU of Alabama, noted that while some "No Kings" members were present, they operated in the background to ensure safety. But that separation is fading. The urgency of the moment—fighting back against attacks on Black and Brown communities, low-income families, and the democratic process—demands a coalition that encompasses all cultures, generations, and regions.

The Altar Call

The goal now is clear: build a coalition that informs, engages, and drives historic turnout in upcoming primaries and, most importantly, the November midterms. As "All Roads Lead to the South" gains momentum with events in 28 states, the movement is positioning itself to be a political force that truly rattles Republican leadership.

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, says the event is more than just a demonstration. "This isn’t a protest," Brown said. "It’s an altar call to those from all corners of the country who want to join us to strengthen this democracy. You will see what democracy looks like."

The "No Kings" Steering Committee has committed to standing in solidarity, stating that their involvement is a response to coordinated efforts by Republican politicians to rig the system and silence Black voters. Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that sixty years after Bloody Sunday, the time for collective action is now. "We are proud to stand with the No Kings coalition and people across the nation to make clear that our communities will not be pushed backward," they said.

The message is simple: no more whispers. The movement, and the voting, has begun.