CAROLINE SAVOIE | Staff Writer
CarolineLSavoie@gmail.com
A series of grassroots rallies are planned across East Texas as part of a nationwide day of action this Saturday, June 14, with communities gathering to reject authoritarianism and mark No Kings Day — a direct response to President Donald Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C.
Rallies scheduled in Longview, Tyler, Kaufman and Athens are each organized by local coalitions aiming to show that rural Texans, too, are paying attention and pushing back.
“We think it’s un-American for the United States president to be throwing himself a military parade for his birthday, costing $50 million of taxpayer money,” said Stephanie Olson, lead organizer of the Tyler event and a member of Indivisible Smith County. “We also don’t like to see the military being used in this way. June 14 [is] the army’s birthday. It isn’t about parades or pageantry. It actually marks the beginning of America’s rejection of kings.”
No Kings Day was launched by the 50501 Movement as a decentralized counter-demonstration, positioning itself as a grassroots alternative to Trump’s military-themed, taxpayer-funded birthday parade. Organizers nationwide are calling on citizens to “show up everywhere he isn’t,” with gatherings expected in all 50 states, according to the No Kings official website.
In Tyler, the No Kings rally will take place from 5-7 p.m. at Bergfeld Park. Olson, who moved to East Texas from the D.C. area, said part of the organizers’ motivation is to let like-minded residents know they’re not alone.
When I arrived in Tyler, I met a lot of people quietly opposed to the MAGA movement,” she said. “But [they] didn’t feel safe to speak out against it.”
The Longview rally is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. outside On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, while Athens will host its event from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Henderson County Court lawn.
Each gathering emphasizes nonviolence, accessibility and a clear rejection of authoritarianism — not just Trump specifically, but the systems that empower and protect unchecked power.
Statewide tensions rise
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday, June 12, the deployment of more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and 2,000 state troopers in anticipation of this weekend’s protests, including those organized under the No Kings banner.
In a statement, Abbott said the move is “to ensure peace and order,” and warned of swift arrests if violence breaks out.
So far, protests in Texas cities like San Antonio have remained peaceful. No Kings organizers emphasized their commitment to de-escalation and nonviolent action.
“We are not interested in provoking conflict,” a local organizer said. “We’re interested in protecting democracy and doing it peacefully.”
A movement that connects the dots
For many organizers and participants, No Kings is about more than one parade or one president.
“Everything is connected,” read a recent Instagram post by @itsthegarbagequeen, an activist promoting the rallies.
“The violence of the ICE raids against immigrants in LA & Minneapolis / The violence against Palestinians as they simply seek food, aid & freedom / The violence against LGBTQ & disabled people as their rights & care are stripped away / The violence against animals, the environment & Indigenous people as those in political power prioritize mining, drilling, lining their own pockets / We have more than enough resources. / We could choose care over destruction. / Stand up. Speak out. Lend a hand. / Do what you can where you stand,” the poem reads.
The reminders of patriotism rooted in peace and democracy born of defiance are paired with local leaders’ hopes for the future: community members say they hope the events create space for future coalition-building across political lines.
“No Kings isn’t a partisan protest,” Olson said. “We want Republicans, Democrats, Independents — anyone who still believes in America’s promise — to come together and say: ‘No kings.’”
For more information or to find a local event, visit nokings.org.
No Kings Events in Texas
Saturday, June 14
East Texas
- Tyler, 5-7 p.m.
Red city rally focused on visibility and democracy Bergfeld Park - Longview, noon-2 p.m.
On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina,
200 W Loop 281 ADA accessible (flat ground, minor step from lot)
Bring chairs, blankets for comfort - Athens, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Henderson County Court at Law, 100 E Tyler St., #101
Peaceful public demonstration outside courthouse
North Texas
- Dallas, noon-2 p.m.
City Hall Palza - Denton, 11a.m.-1 p.m.
Denton Square - Fort Worth
Handmaid’s Tale March at 10 a.m. downtown. Wear red cloaks Fort Worth Area Indivisible rally at noon at Burk Burnett Park, 501 W. 7th St. - Frisco, 9:30-11 a.m.
- McKinney, 10 a.m.-noon
- Richardson, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- Carrollton, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Euless, 7:30–8:15 p.m.
Short sunset gathering - Greenville, 10 a.m.-noon
- Sherman, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Central Texas - Austin, 5-8 p.m.
Evening rally in the capital - Bastrop, 10 a.m.-noon
- Dripping Springs, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Pflugerville, 1-3 p.m.
- San Marcos, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Lockhart, 9 a.m.-noon
- Taylor, 10 a.m.-noon
Houston & Gulf Coast
- Houston, 10 a.m.-noon
- Katy, noon-1 p.m.
- Kingwood, 9:30 a.m.-noon
- League City, noon-1:30 p.m.
- Jersey Village, 10 a.m-2 p.m.
- Sugar Land, noon-2 p.m.
South & West Texas
- San Antonio, 5-8 p.m.
- El Paso, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Corpus Christi, noon-2 p.m.
- McAllen, 10 a.m.-noon
- Laredo, 10 a.m.-noon
Rural & Small Town Events
- Cedar Creek Lake (Kaufman),
9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Longest East Texas event) - Nacogdoches, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
- Palestine, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.