Millions of Americans nationwide participated in "No Kings" protests over the weekend, denouncing President Donald Trump and his administration's policies. The demonstrations aimed to show opposition to what participants called an erosion of democracy and constitutional norms.
In Texas, rallies took place across the state, with the largest gathering occurring in Austin, where it was estimated that more than 20,000 people joined the event.
The Austin protest began at the Texas Capitol, with speeches from activists, elected officials, and musical performances.
U.S. Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett (D) urged demonstrators to resist what he described as autocratic tendencies within the Trump administration.
"We can defeat his autocratic outreach with feet on the street... There's no superhero to save us; each of us has to don our own cape," said Doggett.
Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke (D) was also in attendance and addressed the crowd, expressing optimism for the state's political future.
"It makes me so proud of this state and the people who live in it," said O'Rourke. "Big surprises are coming out of Texas over the next 12 months, and you're getting a preview of that here today."
Governor Greg Abbott (R) directed DPS and the Texas Military Department to deploy more enforcement prior to the protest being held, and throughout the march, there was a large law enforcement presence.
However, the protests remained peaceful, with no arrests being made.
Speakers urged participants to be involved in political activism, especially in the upcoming November election, highlighting the hope that this motivation to fight against the Trump Administration would continue.
