Houston prepares for weekend protests as Mayor Whitmire assures no need for National Guard support.
HOUSTON — Mayor Whitmire says the city is ready for Saturday’s “No Kings” protest. While Gov. Greg Abbott has the Texas National Guard on standby, the mayor and organizers say Houston won’t need them. Organizers say this national grassroots effort is a chance to push back against what they call authoritarian government leadership.
Houston City Hall is the setting for the “No Kings” protest. With unrelated immigration type protests happening in other parts of the state and country, Governor Abbott has the Texas National Guard on standby, just in case.
“Texas is a law and order state, and we will use every tool available to ensure order across our state,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.
But Mayor John Whitmire and Houston 50501 organizers say it won’t be needed.
“We don’t need any assistance. We know how to get things done in the city of Houston,” said Whitmire.
The protesters say they are planning a peaceful Saturday rally and march centered on community and pushing back against what they call President Trump’s authoritarian policies.
“All these different groups—the reason they are coming together is because of how the current administration has been affecting them. Issues with cutting Medicare, cutting SNAP, all of these things that are being talked about in the big beautiful bill in Congress,” said Houston 50501 organizer Ringo Bosley.
The 50501 Movement created the No Kings protests, holding 50 protests in 50 states, for one movement. Houston 50501 organizer Ringo Bosley says this protest is a fight against constitutional violations, including President Trump’s call for widespread deportations, and his position on diversity policies at businesses and institutions.
“We will not tolerate disobedience or destruction of property. That’s just not who we are as a city,” said Whitmire.
Bosley says the No Kings protest is more than booths and tents. It will connect people to resources like food, but also provide writing stations to send postcards to legislators, before ultimately taking a collective march through downtown.
“We’re trying to bring a lot of people together with different voices who wouldn’t normally work together to kind of bridge them together, and this is something that’s very much happened with the 50501 movement.”
Organizers and city leaders are calling for a peaceful protest. Protesters are told that during the protest march, Houston police will be blocking off the route to keep people safe. Six other similar protests are planned in Houston area communities.