TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Chants, car horns and whoops from hundreds of anti-Trump protesters bounced off Taylor’s historic downtown buildings Saturday morning. Protest organizers said the demonstration is in solidarity with thousands of similar events happening nationwide.
Taylor is among more than 60 locations in Texas hosting “No Kings” protests, according to the organizers’ website. The nationwide protest effort Saturday “to say no to thrones, no crowns, no kings” comes on President Donald Trump’s birthday and a military parade in Washington D.C. commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Ahead of the protests in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott called in more than 5,000 Texas Army National Guard soldiers and thousands of Department of Public Safety troopers to “bolster state and local law enforcement response to any criminal activity.”
“No Kings” organizers said they’re committed to “nonviolent action” and want those who join to “seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Los Angeles led to protests there starting last week. Taylor is the site of a longstanding facility for migrants awaiting due process: the T. Don Hutto Detention Center. KXAN has reported on its troubled history, including a lawsuit over living conditions and accusations of improper sexual activity between guards and detainees.
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The displeasure with the Trump administration’s flashed bright on signs carried by protesters.
“NO KINGS” in thick black marker made a simple but powerful statement held high on the corner of Taylor’s main street.
Shiloh Brown helped organize Taylor’s demonstration. She said regardless of why protesters attended the day’s gathering, the overall message of the nationwide movement is the same.
“This is about ‘no authoritarian regimes in the United States of America,’ and as proud Americans, we are here to to demonstrate that we’re interested in keeping this a democracy,” Brown said.
A bright red golf visor with tufts of blonde hair sticking up stood out among the crowd. The words ‘Make America Great Again’ on the visor an unmistakable sign of counter protest.
The wearer of the visor, who’s asked only to be identified by the name Patriot, toted a sign reading “Jesus is my king” and was the lone pro-Trump presence.
Patriot said he wished to see more people at Taylor’s demonstration in support of Trump.
“I’m tired of not seeing anything from the other side that shows the support for our government, for our president,” Patriot said.
The Taylor demonstration ended at 1 p.m. Saturday. In a final update, Brown said it ended without incident.