The Houston march and protest remained peaceful, with a large police presence.
HOUSTON — A massive crowd gathered outside Houston City Hall on Saturday morning as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest. It’s one of dozens of rallies happening Saturday across all 50 states.
By 10 a.m., KHOU 11’s Michelle Choi reported more than 1,000 demonstrators had packed the streets surrounding Houston City Hall. They’re demanding change to federal policies they say are hurting families, immigrant communities, and critical social safety nets like SNAP and Medicare.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Noe Diaz were both downtown to monitor the protest.
Choi noted that the event had remained calm and organized, with heightened security presence and police officers stationed at the scene.
A security guard for the organizers said the crowd was close to 5,000 people.
Houston wasn’t alone in its participation. Sister rallies took place throughout the region in Conroe, Kingwood, League City, and Katy as part of the larger national event.
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 earlier in the week.
The protesters were 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.
Planned protests around Houston area Saturday
- Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby Street
- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Conroe City Hall, 300 West Davis St.
- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- 19823 Northwest Freeway
- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- 901 Avenue C in Katy,
- 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Location is private, available to those who sign up
- 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk
- 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Corner of West Lake Houston Drive and Kingwood Drive
- 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.