On October 18, local protestors joined a national wave of No Kings demonstrations against what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s growing authoritarian inclinations. Various rallies occurred in Houston, including at Discovery Green downtown and The Woodlands.

A coalition of more than 200 progressive organizations, like the 50501 Movement and Indivisible, is organizing the “No Kings” movement. As part of a national effort, more than 2,500 protests are taking place across all 50 U.S. states on October 18. Movement leaders stated that around 1,700 people had registered online to take part in the downtown Houston protest. According to the Houston Chronicle, police did not confirm this number of participants.

At Discovery Green, protesters held their demonstration at noon around the same time as other concurrent events, such as the Families with Pride festival. People crowded the park and overflowed to other streets, shouting slogans and carrying signs denouncing the presence of “kings” in the White House. Outside central Houston, satellite protests continued in communities such as Pasadena, Pearland, Clear Lake, Conroe, and The Woodlands.

In Texas’s state capitol, Governor Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard, Texas Rangers, and state troopers where planned protests were to be held, citing fears of violence and unrest. In Houston, the local policing presence was visible, yet the protests had minimal displays of aggression and violence.

The coalition preached nonviolence, issued safety tips, and urged people to dress up in the color yellow, which was one of the symbols of unity.  They cited such issues as increased executive authority, a threat to democratic norms, healthcare cuts, and deportation policies in their statements.

This is the second mass mobilization of this kind since the June protest in Houston, when an estimated 15,000 people gathered in downtown Houston. That earlier protest set the tone for more civic engagement across Texas. Organizers of the event say that turnout for the October protest shows that the movement is not losing its momentum.

As the protests concluded, many hoped this wouldn’t be a one-off event but rather an act of civic action that would continue. Movement leaders encouraged attendees to register to vote, stay informed about politics and upcoming elections, and continue protesting. For many participants, this protest represented a broader call to civic engagement across Texas.