Father, daughter asked to move protest again after planning 2nd anti-Trump demonstration

After a small group of protesters was warned off from holding a rally last month, Warner Robins organizers attempted to follow the right process for a second demonstration but faced roadblocks.

The Warner Robins Development Authority gave Thomas Thurman an ultimatum: move to a more secluded spot a block away from where he wanted to hold his protest, or risk legal consequences.

Thomas Thurman and his 16-year-old daughter, Samantha Thurman, initially planned a protest opposing President Donald Trump to be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in front of a mural of civil rights activist John Lewis on Watson Boulevard, North Davis Drive and South Commercial Circle.

Warner Robins Police Department Chief Wayne Fisher told The Telegraph he initially approved Thomas Thurman’s request for this protest, and even waived the $25 application fee “to be supportive and not an obstacle in the application process.” Fisher said he waived the fee because WRPD does not have a digital financial account to receive or deposit money.

This came weeks after Fisher’s department warned the public against showing up to a scheduled protest outside At Home Furniture on Watson Boulevard because they hadn’t gotten proper approvals.

“He has certainly tried to be helpful,” Thomas Thurman said of Fisher. “He had no objection to the location.”

But Fisher reversed the approval when he realized Thomas Thurman also needed written approval from the property owner, which was the development authority.

Kate Hogan, community and economic development director of the city, ultimately turned down the request about a week before the protest. She said the parking lot was not large enough to handle a crowd near the busy intersection.

“The property is small in nature and could have negative impacts to adjoining properties,” Hogan told Thomas Thurman in an email. “Additionally, there is some concern about the general safety of a First Amendment activity on this property as it is so close to the intersection of North Davis and Watson Boulevard.”

James Drinkard, city administrator, said it was impossible to predict how many people would participate, though Thomas Thurman said no more than 20 people would show up.

Even still, Drinkard repeated Hogan’s point that a protest could disturb nearby businesses. Drinkard referenced a flyer posted on social media regarding a protest on Feb. 22, which The Telegraph previously reported on.

“While we understand that you believe you will not draw more than 20 participants, the fact is that information about the series of First Amendment events has been distributed on social media channels and has received coverage in local media outlets,” Drinkard told Thomas Thurman in an email. “Your preferred location cannot safely handle more than a small gathering without disrupting the general public and nearby properties and businesses.”

Most surrounding businesses were closed by the time the protest was scheduled to start. The protest wound up being a small gathering, with six people showing up.

Settling on a new spot

Hogan offered an alternate location to hold the protest: at Perkins Park on Watson Boulevard and Maple Street — which sits on a slower two-way street a block away from the original location on the busy intersection.

While Thomas Thurman was not entirely pleased with the new location, he understood that was the only chance for a permitted protest. He agreed to move it there for the same day and time.

“It’s smaller than we’d hoped, but we’ve gotten some traction,” Thomas Thurman said at the protest Saturday afternoon. “Cars would have had to go out of their way to disturb us in front of the mural.”

Police Sgt. Casey Mullins parked in front of the recreation department next to Perkins Park during the protest. Fisher approved Thomas Thurman’s request for nearby police presence to ensure safety at the event, according to an email.

“I can tell you 100% we have a duty to protect them and a duty to protect the public, and that’s what we do ...” Mullins said Saturday. “We’re not going to get involved on one side or the other.”

The small group raised signs opposing recent actions and plans by Trump and Elon Musk — including the Department of Government Efficiency — which has claimed to have saved $115 billion from lease and contract cancellations, and federal workers’ terminations. It wants to cut $1 trillion in federal spending this year, NPR reported.

Kate Taylor, a social studies teacher at Northside High School, held a sign that said “Remove the DOGE bag from the White House.”

Taylor heard about the protest through Northside student Samantha Thurman — Thomas’ daughter who came up with the idea to protest and handed out flyers at her school about it.

Samantha Thurman waved a sign that said, “We need nature. It doesn’t need us.”

Trump has slashed several environmental and climate change federal initiatives that would have monitored pollution, land contamination, energy efficiency and other “critically important programs,” according to the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Other protesters held signs advocating for other issues at threat under the Trump administration and congressional Republicans such as Social Security, Medicaid and free speech.

Samantha Thurman said she organized the protest to give a voice to those who are afraid to speak out.

“Pretty much all of my friends are horrified of what’s happening right now,” Samantha Thurman said. “A lot of my friends are gay, trans, colored ... I wanted to help people in any way I can.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM.