Thousands rally across Houston in “No Kings” protest against Trump-era policies

Thousands of demonstrators filled the steps of City Hall and gathered across the Houston area Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests—organized by the grassroots 50501 Movement, which aims to stage 50 protests across 50 states under one unified message.

The movement, largely organized through social media, drew massive turnout locally, with 12 protests across the greater Houston area, including in Pearland, Clearlake, Pasadena, Katy and La Porte, to name a few.

At the heart of the protest: opposition to former President Donald Trump and his policies, with attendees calling for change on issues ranging from immigration and healthcare to housing and public safety.

“We are all regular Americans. We love our country. We hate what we see happening to our country,” said protester Marisa Mundey, reflecting the tone of the crowd.

“People who helped us in Afghanistan were sent back into harm’s way. That’s not who we are.”

Diverse voices, united message

Protesters came from all walks of life—elected officials, religious leaders, veterans, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community all stood together in what was described by many as a movement of love and unity, not just opposition.

“Our church is really focused on spreading more love in the world,” said Paige Powell of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. “This administration and the way that policies are playing out right now is anything but that.”

Houston City Councilmember Dr. Letitia Plummer (At-Large Position 4), emphasized that many of the issues like housing, flood mitigation, and public safety are at risk. She says she showed up as an everyday voter, hoping to help spark change at the local levels, first.

“People can’t even feed their families. They have no safe place to live,” she said. “We are not backing down… If we can do that locally, that’s how the message gets sent.”

Messages of hope and protest

Attendees were handed chalk to leave behind personal messages—many focused on hope, unity, and justice. Chants like “Some Country That We Used to Know” and “No Unity, No Peace” echoed through the crowd.

For some, like Jessalyn Longoria, this wasn’t their first protest—and won’t be the last.

“I think it should be an everyday thing,” she said. “It helps people who don’t know what’s going on… see it.”

A growing local movement

This marked the second “No Kings” protest held at Houston City Hall this year, and one of the largest in the state so far. Organizers and attendees say momentum is building—and they have no plans to stop speaking out.

While political views varied—some Democrats calling for new leadership, and even some Republicans expressing frustration with their party—all attendees shared a common belief: the country needs change, and the movement must begin with everyday Americans.