Demonstrations against Trump’s policies are set for Saturday, coinciding with his 79th birthday and a military parade.
HOUSTON — Demonstrations are expected across the country Saturday as part of a coordinated protest against former President Donald Trump and what organizers describe as his authoritarian policies.
The event, called “No Kings Day,” coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday and a military parade he ordered to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
Organizers said the protest has been in the works for months, with more than 200 national organizations collaborating to plan demonstrations in cities nationwide.
They estimate more than 2,000 protests will take place across the U.S. and globally.
“You don’t need a military parade to show the might of the United States,” said Liam Kent, a spokesperson for the No Kings Day Coalition. “That’s why we’re holding protests across the country — to push back against what we see as dangerous overreach.”
Organizers describe No Kings Day as a peaceful response to what they call a pattern of undemocratic behavior by the Trump administration, citing suppression of free speech, detainment of political opponents and defiance of judicial rulings.
They said these protests have nothing to do with the recent anti-ICE protests that have occurred in the last week in Los Angeles.
In Houston, the main demonstration is scheduled to take place downtown, with satellite events expected in Conroe, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land and League City.
A local protester, a retired woman in her 70s, who requested to remain anonymous, said in a phone interview that she is alarmed by recent federal budget cuts and pending legislation.
“There are terribly bad issues in that new bill,” she said. “It’s a big, bad, ugly bill.”
Here’s what President Donald Trump had to say about protests:
“We’re going to be celebrating big on Saturday,” Trump said. “And if there are protests, they’ll be met with strong force.”
Despite that, experts said the demonstrations represent a core element of American democracy.
“The right to protest is embedded in the Constitution,” said KHOU 11 Political Analyst Brandon Rottinghaus. “It’s a tool citizens have used for generations to express dissatisfaction with leadership or public policy.”
Organizers in Texas said they have contacted local law enforcement for added security, citing concerns about possible confrontations with counter-protesters. They have also criticized Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to deploy the Texas National Guard, but said they will not be intimidated.
Over 2,000 protests are expected in cities across the U.S. and abroad.