Charles Farmer
Audio By Carbonatix
It’s been a while since local streets have been filled with the enthusiastic shouts and colorful signs of protesters voicing their opposition to the Trump administration. But that will change on Saturday, Oct. 18, for the No Kings Day of Peaceful Action. It’s the first large-scale No Kings series of rallies since June, when hundreds of thousands of protesters gained enough attention from state and federal leaders that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the Texas National Guard to select rallies.
“As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the No Kings nonviolent movement continues to rise stronger,” reads a press release for the series of events. “We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power belongs to the people.”
A wide range of topics takes center stage during the No Kings events. During the June 14 rally in Dallas, people displaying signs with messaging geared toward President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, the Russia-Ukraine war and Trump’s criminal record could be seen among the masses
“The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us,” reads the Dallas rally’s webpage.
Who is Organizing The No Kings Day of Peaceful Action?
According to a press release, many partner organizations are involved in organizing the events, including the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Indivisible, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, SEIU, and Blue Anchor Project.
Where Are the North Texas No Kings Events?
- Dallas, Pacific Plaza, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Carrollton, 2600 Old Denton Road, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- Plano, 3300 Preston Road, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Frisco, 155 Old Newman Road, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Denton, Denton Square, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Fort Worth, 501 W. 7th St., 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
What to Know Before You Go
The crowds have increased over the year with each passing No Kings and Hands Off! event. Thanks to the publicity the events have received from top Republican lawmakers who oppose their point, it’s likely to be even more crowded on Saturday than many of the events were in June.
Organizers stress that these rallies are to be peaceful gatherings, noting in the press release that “a core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
