Austin’s “No Kings” Rally: A Peaceful Day of Protest and Democracy
Austin witnessed a historic gathering as thousands of people took to the streets Saturday to participate in the nationwide “No Kings Day” protest. What began as a response to policies linked to the Trump administration transformed into one of the largest mobilization efforts since the president returned to office—and Austin played a central role in this grassroots movement.
“This is about his future. It couldn’t be more important.” — Sarah Harrison, rally attendee who brought her young son
A Historic Turnout
The numbers tell the story of a movement that resonated across the nation. Approximately 20,000-to-30,000 protesters converged at the Texas Capitol to make their voices heard.
To put this in perspective, this was just one of more than 2,700 pro-democracy “No Kings” rallies held nationwide on the same day, with organizers reporting that nearly 7 million people participated in total demonstrations across the country.
The sheer scale of the event underscored the energy and commitment of those who came together to advocate for their vision of democracy and governance. From early morning assembling at the Capitol to the afternoon march toward Auditorium Shores, the day showcased the power of peaceful civic engagement.
Voices of Leadership and Hope
The rally featured speakers who brought both local and statewide perspectives to the movement. Democratic Representatives Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett of Austin took to the stage to address the crowd. Doggett didn’t hold back, placing blame on Trump and congressional Republicans for the ongoing government shutdown and urging participants to stay engaged in upcoming elections.
But perhaps the most surprising moment came when former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke appeared at Auditorium Shores later in the day. O’Rourke’s presence resonated with many in the crowd as he expressed his pride in Texas and its people. “It makes me so proud of this state and the people who live in it and what they’re doing right now in a place that is so often written off by the rest of the country,” he said. O’Rourke also emphasized that the gathering was “clearly peaceful” and notably called out Governor Greg Abbott for mobilizing the Texas National Guard in response to the protest.
The March Down Congress Avenue
The day’s programming was carefully organized to maximize participation and visibility. After an initial assembly at the Capitol at 2:00 PM, where leaders addressed the crowd, organizers initiated a march at 2:30 PM. The procession made its way down Congress Avenue, one of Austin’s most iconic thoroughfares, heading toward Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake.
Once the marchers reached Auditorium Shores, the activities continued from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM with additional speeches, musical performances, and dozens of community organizations set up to engage with participants. This format allowed people not only to protest but also to connect with local causes and organizations working on issues that mattered to them.
The National Guard Question
Before the event, Governor Greg Abbott had promised to deploy the Texas National Guard to the “No Kings” protest, raising questions about whether security concerns would overshadow the demonstration. However, on the ground in Austin, this concern never materialized. No National Guard members were visible at Auditorium Shores or elsewhere during the protest.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson clarified that the guard would only be sent to the streets in case of emergency—and no emergency ever arose. The peaceful nature of the day made any such deployment unnecessary. O’Rourke’s pointed critique of Abbott’s decision to mobilize the guard reflected the sentiment shared by many that the show of force was an overreaction to what was clearly a peaceful, democratic expression.
A Day Without Incident
One of the most striking aspects of yesterday’s rally in Austin was what didn’t happen. Despite the scale of the gathering and the pre-event tension, the rally remained entirely peaceful from start to finish. The Austin Police Department confirmed that no arrests were made throughout the day.
“Why wouldn’t we be out here?” — APD Commander Lawrence Davis
This peaceful outcome stood in sharp contrast to some of the concerns that had been voiced beforehand. It demonstrated that large-scale civic protests, when organized thoughtfully and participated in respectfully, can achieve their goals without incident or disruption.
What It All Means
It was more than just a protest—it was a statement. It showed that Texans, in a state often characterized as politically conservative, are willing to mobilize in defense of democratic principles and against policies they believe threaten the country’s future.
The presence of figures like Beto O’Rourke and the powerful speeches from Representatives Casar and Doggett underscored that this wasn’t a fringe movement. This was mainstream political engagement driven by genuine concern about the direction of the country.
With more than 2,700 rallies taking place nationwide and nearly 7 million participants, October 18, 2025, will likely be remembered as a turning point—a day when millions of Americans stood up peacefully but forcefully to express their vision for democracy. And Austin, with 30,000 people marching down Congress Avenue, proved once again why it remains a hub for activism and civic engagement.
As Mayor Kirk Watson and other local leaders watched the day unfold without incident, it became clear that peaceful protest remains one of America’s most powerful tools for change.
ENTIRE “NO KINGS” RALLY VIDEO:
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos: CBS Austin and KUT 90.5
Still unconfirmed reports early this morning of gunshots and a body found at a North Austin apartment complex.
Also overnight,
What began as a frantic search for a missing man in Lake Travis is now a grim recovery effort, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO).
Authorities say the initial 911 call came in around 6:00 p.m. Saturday for a swimmer in distress. Despite a swift response from multiple agencies, the TCSO confirmed that an hour later that the incident had tragically shifted from rescue to recovery. The missing man has only been identified as being in his 40s. (FOX 7 Austin)
PODCAST
After an unexpected discovery, a neighborhood in a rural part of Williamson County is battling with county leaders over rights to their roads. This week on Inside the Investigation, Investigative Reporter Taylor Alanis explains why neighbors worry about the future of their community.
Drier air and breezy/gusty northeast winds will be in place today across portions of south-central Texas. In combination with the drought-stressed fuels, this will result in near-critical fire weather conditions and an increased risk for fires to spread quickly. Avoid outdoor activities that could in advertently cause a wildfire.
WEATHER
As expected, Saturday’s high temperatures broke records for the day.
SATURDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The National Hurricane Center is continuing to monitor the development of Invest 98L in the Atlantic, and forecasters say there’s a medium chance it could become our next tropical depression over the next week.
“NO KINGS” RALLIES ACROSS TEXAS
DALLAS – FORT WORTH
SAN ANTONIO
HOUSTON
CORPUS CHRISTI
EL PASO
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump losing his mind all night and engaging in the most bizarre behavior at night after the No Kings protest set the record to largest protest in history.
The Next Generation – A Republican congressman says he represents the “next generation of leadership” in the race for U.S. Senate. Why he says his age is a factor that voters should consider in this tight primary race.
That and other issues in Texas news this past week…
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mason Shipley connected on a 45-yard field goal to lift the Texas Longhorns to a 16-13 overtime victory over Kentucky on Saturday night at Kroger Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Longhorns (5-2, 3-1 SEC) opened the extra period by denying the Wildcats (2-4, 0-4 SEC) on a pair of rushing attempts from the 1-yard line, setting the stage for Shipley’s heroics.
The senior’s game-winner marked the first-ever walk-off field goal in overtime by a Texas player. (Texas Longhorns)
Texas Football – Kentucky Wildcats Postgame Show
ON THE SCHEDULE
In other college action…a thriller in Fayetteville.
Marcel Reed threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 55 yards and another score as No. 4 Texas A&M held on to beat Arkansas 45-42 on Saturday and keep its perfect season going.
The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) have opened with seven wins for the first time since 1994, when they finished 10-0-1. With No. 9 Georgia’s 43-35 win over No. 5 Mississippi earlier Saturday, Texas A&M is the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC. (Associated Press)
For the Red Raiders of Texas Tech, a tough loss on the road, their first of the season.
After a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead turned a deficit, Sam Leavitt led Arizona State down the field to set up Raleek Brown’s 1-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left on Saturday, capping a wild 26-22 win that handed No. 7 Texas Tech its first loss of the season. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
NFL: The Dallas Cowboys are home this afternoon hosting the Washington Commanders.
The Houston Texans play tomorrow night.
MLS: Austin FC concluded the MLS regular season with a 2-1 away loss against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at PayPal Park. Austin was already guaranteed to finish in sixth place in the Western Conference ahead of the match. (Austin FC)
Following other results around the league, Austin will face Los Angeles FC in Round One of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, with match schedule still to be announced.
NHL: The Dallas Stars have hit the skids lately after their 3-0 start to the season.
Jordan Kyrou and Jimmy Snuggerud scored second-period goals, Jordan Binnington made 18 saves and the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Saturday night. Dallas has dropped their last two games. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
FORMULA ONE: Day 2 qualifying.
Sprint race highlights…
In this episode of Texas Country Reporter, we travel from El Paso to Fredericksburg to meet three Texans who put creativity, culture, and craft at the heart of everything they do.
Grant Langmore – When he was just 13, Grant Langmore broke a bass fishing record right on Lady Bird Lake. Now, he’s come full circle — turning his passion into a career as a fishing guide who helps others experience the same thrill of reeling in trophy catches in the heart of Austin.
Dave’s A Pawn Shop – A downtown El Paso landmark, Dave’s A Pawn Shop has seen it all. Owner Clay Baron carries on his family’s legacy, keeping the shelves packed with rare finds, strange treasures, and stories you can’t make up.
Eaker Barbecue – At Eaker Barbecue, Lance and Boo Eaker bring together Texas smokehouse tradition and Korean flavors for something truly special. Their brisket, kimchi, and creative sides have turned this Hill Country spot into a barbecue destination.
From record-breaking catches on Lady Bird Lake to the wildest pawn shop in El Paso and a Hill Country barbecue joint with a Korean twist — this week’s episode captures the spirit, grit, and flavor that make Texas unforgettable.
