Millions of protesters are expected to gather in cities across America on Saturday to denounce the Trump administration’s immigration policies and executive actions.
Activists are planning peaceful “No Kings” demonstrations across the country on Saturday to coincide with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C. and to protest federal immigration enforcement raids.
Keep up with the latest protests and demonstrations in North Texas in our live blog.
Texas DPS makes arrest in threat on state lawmakers at Austin ‘No Kings' rally
Protestors take to the grounds of the Texas Capitol in Austin
By NBCDFW Staff
Hours after a "credible threat" led Texas DPS to evacuate the Texas State Capitol Complex, protestors in Austin gathered. "We're cautious, but we're not going to let this silence us," said Gene Wu (D-Houston), the Chair of the TX House Democratic Caucus, who sponsored the protest.
NBCDFW.comGroup of women dressed as handmaidens at ‘No Kings' protest in Fort Worth
By NBCDFW Staff
A large group of people dressed as handmaidens from the series “The Handmaids Tale” walked the streets in Downtown Fort Worth during a protest on Saturday.
‘No Kings' rally in Austin proceeds; Texas DPS makes arrest in threat on state lawmakers
By The Associated Press
Hundreds of people gathered on the grounds of the Texas Capitol Saturday afternoon.
The 'No Kings' rally at the Texas Capitol late Saturday took place as scheduled, hours after the Capitol complex in Austin was shut down over a threat. Shortly after the protest resumed, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced an arrest in connection with the threat.
Texas DPS said Saturday afternoon it “identified a credible threat toward state lawmakers planning to attend” the demonstration at the state Capitol.
Dozens of state troopers swarmed through the grounds about four hours before the event. Officers closed the building and the surrounding grounds, forcing the public to evacuate.
“DPS has a duty to protect the people and property of Texas and is continuously monitoring events occurring today and their impact on public safety across the state,” DPS spokeswoman Ericka Miller said.
Dallas protestors chant ‘hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go'
By NBCDFW Staff
Dallas police estimate turnout of 10,000 people for ‘No Kings' protest in Dallas
By NBCDFW Staff
Protestors wade into Dallas City Hall fountain
By NBCDFW Staff
Protestors waded into the fountain outside Dallas City Hall to cool off. The temperature in Dallas Saturday afternoon was 91 degrees, but with the humidity it feels like 102 degrees outside.
Photos from the ‘No Kings' protest in McKinney
By NBCDFW Staff
People gathered along the road in McKinney in a 'No Kings' demonstration on Saturday afternoon. The Collin County Democratic Party chairman says over 3,000 people showed up.
‘No Kings' protestors gather in Denton square
By NBCDFW Staff
Protestors gathered in Denton starting at 11 a.m. for the nationwide 'No Kings' protests on Saturday. Our NBC 5's Candace Sweat estimates around 900-1000 people were at the protest at its peak.
Texas Sky Ranger over North Texas ‘No Kings' protests
By NBCDFW Staff
Local news agencies are sharing resources Saturday to provide the best coverage for North Texans. Below are live feeds from news helicopters, including NBC 5's Texas Sky Ranger.
When the helicopters need to refuel, the feed may be changed to other demonstrations in North Texas.
Where are ‘No Kings' protests in North Texas?
What to know about ‘No Kings' protests on Saturday
The “No Kings” theme is orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
According to a press release from No Kings, the No Kings Day of Defiance has been organized to reject authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics and the militarization of the country's democracy.
The events on Saturday counter the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration, which includes an expensive, lavish military parade in Washington, D.C. It's also Trump's 79th birthday.
According to the No Kings website, protests are scheduled in nearly 2,000 locations around the country, from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks.
While many demonstrations held before Saturday have been peaceful, with marchers chanting slogans and carrying signs, others have led to clashes with police who have sometimes used chemical irritants to disperse crowds. Hundreds have been arrested.
Volatile protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency prompted city officials in Los Angeles and Spokane to enforce curfews. Republican governors in Texas and Missouri mobilized National Guard troops to prepare for assisting law enforcement in managing demonstrations in those states, aiming to prevent them from getting out of hand.
The Trump administration said immigration raids and deportations will continue despite the protests. A look at some recent protests and reactions across the country:
Dallas, Austin, Houston
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe mobilized National Guard troops in their states ahead of the weekend demonstrations.
Abbott said more than 5,000 guard troops and more than 2,000 state police would be ready to assist local law enforcement if needed.
Several “No Kings” rallies are planned in Texas, including in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Austin. There were brief clashes between protesters and police who used chemical irritants during demonstrations in Austin and Dallas earlier in the week. Police in Austin made about a dozen arrests.
Mayors in San Antonio and Austin have said they didn't ask for help from the National Guard.
The governor’s military and police force has been met with criticism by Dallas city and county leaders.
“Anytime we’ve seen military forces be used against its own people is fascist regimes,” said Dallas City Councilmember Adam Bazaldua.
Bazaldua says he plans on attending demonstrations over the weekend both as a show of solidarity and to feel ‘the pulse’ of the community.
He urges demonstrators to raise their voice, but do so peacefully.
“It acts as a catalyst to voices who are often overlooked and so I encourage you to use that right but do so peacefully and don’t give some people what they want, which is a narrative to be proven that they’re trying to paint.”
Judge Clay Jenkins says he has offered demonstrators, who were already planning to protest Friday and Saturday in Dallas, to do so in front of the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts Building.
“As long as they stay on that land [Frank Crowley], we believe we can protect them that there won’t be clashes,” said Jenkins on Thursday. “We hope they take us up on that offer because I know if people march and block traffic, it will give people who want to demonize the peaceful protestors the photo-op they’re looking for and the chance to tear gas and arrest people.”
Kehoe’s announcement called his decision a “precautionary measure” and did not provide specific troop levels or duties. His order authorized guard leadership to call up as many members as necessary.
Abbott and Kehoe stand in sharp contrast to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has publicly sparred with Trump over the president's decision to send National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, where volatile demonstrations have mostly been contained to a five-block section of downtown.
All 22 other Democratic governors signed a statement backing Newsom, calling the Guard deployment and threats to send in Marines “an alarming abuse of power.”
San Antonio
Several hundred protesters marched through downtown San Antonio and near the historic Alamo mission. Although Texas National Guard troops were seen in the area, the demonstration was mostly peaceful with no significant clashes with law enforcement.
The Alamo building and plaza, among the most popular tourist attractions in the state, was closed to the public early and police guarded the property as the crowd gathered and marched nearby.
Las Vegas
Police said 94 people were arrested on “various criminal and traffic" charges, and four officers were injured in a Wednesday night protest. Some in the estimated crowd of about 800 threw bottles and rocks at law enforcement, police said.
A large crowd gathered on Las Vegas Boulevard near the city's federal courthouse and blocked several streets before police deemed the gathering an unlawful assembly. Police announced in English and Spanish that protesters must leave the area. Local media reported that tear gas, flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets were used to disperse the crowds.
Seattle
Hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Seattle Wednesday evening to a federal building where immigration cases are heard. Some of them dragged a dumpster nearby and set it on fire. The building was covered in graffiti, with “Abolish ICE Now” written in large letters across its front window. They moved electric bikes and cones to block the entrance.
Dozens of officers squared off with protesters near the federal building, with some shooting pepper spray. Police worked to move the crowd away and some protesters threw fireworks and rocks at officers, according to the Seattle Police Department.
ICE Protests
Spokane
Mayor Lisa Brown imposed an overnight curfew in downtown Spokane after a protest Wednesday afternoon outside an ICE office that ended with more than 30 arrests and police firing pepper balls at the crowd.
Brown said the curfew would “protect public safety,” and that the majority of protesters were peaceful.
“We respect their right to peacefully protest and to be upset about federal policies,” she said. “I have been that person who has protested federal policies and that is a right we have.”
Tucson
A protest Wednesday outside an ICE office in Tucson, Arizona, turned into a clash between masked security officers and demonstrators who blocked a roadway, threw balloons filled with paint, and spray-painted anti-ICE graffiti on the gates and walls of the facility.
Video clips showed a security officer who was hit with a water bottle. Masked protesters held makeshift shields as they inched toward the security team, and a member of the security team set off what appeared to be a flash-bang device.
At one point, a security officer sprayed a chemical irritant at protesters and a protester responded by firing irritant back at the officers. It was unclear if the officers were private security or federal agents. The Associated Press left messages with the Tucson Police Department and ICE’s operation in Arizona.
‘No Kings’
This week's protests are leading into the scheduled “No Kings” demonstrations that organizers say are planned in nearly 2,000 locations around the country, from city blocks to small towns, courthouse steps to community parks, according to the movement's website.
Organizers plan a flagship march and rally in Philadelphia, but no protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will be held.
In Florida, State Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that any “No Kings” protesters who become violent will be dealt with harshly.
“If you want to light things on fire and put people in danger, you are going to do time. We do not tolerate rioting,” Uthmeier said Thursday.
Federal prosecutors are watching as well.
In a message sent Thursday, a Justice Department official told U.S. attorneys across the country to prioritize cases against protesters who engage in violence and destruction. The email cites several potential federal charges, including assault, civil disorder, and damage to government property.
