I’ve read estimates that our Florida protest had 2 to 3,000. It was totally hard to tell because it was spread out up and down US 1 as far as the eye could see. But lots of people!
I'd like to report that at the small rally I attended today in a small town, I'm thinking a couple hundred people there, WAAAY more people in jacked up pickup trucks honked, waved, or gave thumbs up than didn't. It was shocking. Also two tractor trailer drivers honking a lot. It was really really good.
In one truck, the driver gave us the finger but the passenger gave us solidarnosc.
We had a good couple hours at the protest here in Nevada County, Grass Valley, CA. 10:30-12:30. Easily twice the number of last time, and last time was credited with 4000. Very upbeat atmosphere. Our local Indivisible chapter did a great job of organizing. There were ready-made signs to pick from. Tons of really cool like-minded people, some with very creative signs. One of my favorites was "No Faux-King Way", and "Fuck Fox News"-- the latter of which I would call "pithy", if not so creative. I took pics and videos. I would like to remind people that the Czechs booted out the Soviets after two weeks of 200,000 people rallying every day on Wenceslas Square in Prague... so keep it up people! We can do this! (We have to do this).
Just got back from the protest in my city. I have no idea how many other people were there, but I'd guess at least hundreds--if not a few thousand. I never saw any counter-protesters, and the cops didn't come at us (they seemed to be there to direct traffic), so things worked out pretty well IMO.
ETA: seems I underestimated just how many people were there. From reports I've seen, it looks more like 90,000.
We asked Cypress No Kings protesters if they 'hate America.' Here's what they said. | Editorial
By The Editorial Board
Oct 18, 2025
Hundreds of No Kings protesters gather in Cypress at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston on October 18, 2025.
Hundreds of No Kings protesters gather in Cypress at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston on October 18, 2025.
Raj Mankad
If America is at a crossroads, it was all unfolding at the intersection of Farm-to-Market 1960 and U.S. 290 in the far northwest corner of the Houston suburbs.
On this withering hot Saturday morning in October, more than a thousand people lined the frontage roads at the base of a towering overpass. At 9:45 a.m., before most of the nationwide protests had started, the Cypress crowd waved their “No Kings” signs, American flags and a “Y’all means all” rainbow banner.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson characterized No Kings protests as “hate America” rallies. So a member of the editorial board asked attendees in Cypress a simple question: Do you hate America?
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LIVE UPDATES: Hundreds of No Kings protesters march to downtown Houston City Hall
“We love America,” said Jennifer Backo, 82, without hesitation. So why then was she standing in the heat at the edge of a Houston highway? “We are afraid for our democracy,” she said. “I believe in the First Amendment. People are getting fired in the government for speaking their mind.”
Mike Faulkenberry, 48, attended the protest in an inflatable bald eagle outfit with a red-white-and-blue top hat. We asked him, as well, do you hate America?
“No, I love America,” he said. “I’m prior service. I take the oath I took to protect my country from all enemies, foreign and domestic, especially domestic, very seriously.”
The threat to the country he loves, he believes, is a descent into fascist authoritarianism. That would explain the eagle getup, only Faulkenberry said he’d tried to order a frog outfit first but none were available.
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Perhaps the last one had been nabbed by the woman across the feeder road who insisted on being interviewed in frog character. We asked the bouncy green, giant amphibian whether it hates America?
“No, in fact, the reason everyone is out here is because we love America, and the idea of America, so much that we’re not willing to lose our democratic republic to a wannabe king,” the frog said.
But why the frog outfit?
“The frog has sort of become the symbol of the boogeyman antifa that Mike Johnson is afraid of, almost as much he is afraid of naked bike riders,” the frog said, adding that “antifa is normal, antifascism is normal and anti-fascists are everywhere.”
FROM OPINION: No Kings or not, waving a sign doesn't make you a terrorist. It makes you a Texan. | Editorial
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Is antifascism really normal? In the northwest suburbs of Houston? The area is widely considered a ruby-red stronghold. The local Cy-Fair ISD school board has a six-to-one majority of trustees who were endorsed by the Republican party.
Three of those seats, however, are on the ballot with early voting starting Monday. The slate of candidates backed by Democrats are all former educators focused on students and support for teachers rather than culture wars. They earned the endorsement of the editorial board.
Meanwhile, Republicans have splintered. The CFISD vice president, Natalie Blasingame, is challenging the board president, Scott Henry, after he did not support pay for chaplains in schools. He also changed his mind on cuts to bus routes after several children were hit by cars.
Another protest is planned Tuesday near an event where Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to speak in the area.
“It seems he’s coming into our neck of the woods because he is worried,” said Jennifer Lorenz. She co-organized the Saturday rally for Cypress/Tomball Democrats, along with Indivisible Cypress. By her count, more than 1,500 people attended.
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Among the protesters was 77-year-old retired Cy-Fair teacher Sam Loomis. Does he hate America, as House Speaker Johnson suggests?
“No,” he said, and suggested that Speaker Johnson is “covering up the Epstein files.”
He, too, said he was focused on the Constitution: “I’ve taught history for 40 years. I’ve been teaching the First Amendment for a long time. This is what the First Amendment says: You are allowed to gather and peacefully protest.”
He said book banning by the Cy-Fair board was a “bad look” and that the “gay community is being picked on, brown people are being picked on. It’s got to stop.”
By noon, all the inflatable creatures — three frogs, the eagle, a purple dinosaur, a pink Axolotl and multiple unicorns — had gone home. So had the free speech defenders in wheelchairs.
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No Kings protesters in Cypress included several inflatable creatures on October 18, 2025. They gathered at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston.
No Kings protesters in Cypress included several inflatable creatures on October 18, 2025. They gathered at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston.
Raj Mankad
The Starbucks in the adjacent strip mall filled up with worn-out retirees cooling off.
One of the last folks to leave was Backo. She’ll be 83 on Monday, she said.
Across the country, in the downtowns of major cities, including Houston, far larger crowds gathered. No doubt, many of those protesters hold radical views out of step with many Americans.
But on FM 1960, deep in the heart of purple suburbia, we didn’t see or hear a hint of hatred for this great country.
We saw patriots waving American flags. We saw our elders out in the heat. And their message was clear: Now is the time
to speak up for the Constitution of the United States.
I think it's higher. The Portland protest was more than double the numbers in June. Other cities are reporting huge numbers, too. Chicago far surpassed its June numbers (see link I posted above).
I heard 5 million in June. So not a "lot" more, imo, not to diminish the 7 million. Still pretty fekkin significant! A few thousand in Grass Valley/ Nevada City, CA.
The Portland protest was huge (police estimate is 40,000). So many inflatable costumes! Frogs, squirrels, dinosaurs, unicorns, mice (I think? maybe rats?), raccoons among others. Lots of music. Drummers under the viaduct sounded amazing. There was a brass band marching, too. Big yellow balloons with "Resist" printed on them were bounced around by the crowd like volleyballs. Bubble blowers. It was peaceful and joyful but with an underlying air of seriousness, not sure how else to describe it.
Well, today turned out to be a bust. I woke up with a very froggy throat, and my son came down with whatever virus I've been getting over. So we stayed home and surfed the internet for pictures and video of protests around the country. And the world! I guess you could say we protested vicariously.
Developed condition making it inadvisable to be more than 15 seconds from a toilet. Stayed home and fumed. My housemate went, though; ABQ was out in force. No problems at all.
Sure 7 million Americans turned out, but what about the 14 million that turned out for Trumps inauguration?
I’ve read estimates that our Florida protest had 2 to 3,000. It was totally hard to tell because it was spread out up and down US 1 as far as the eye could see. But lots of people!
From the NYC protest: https://adiderot309888.substack.com/p/no-kings-101825
Apparently, George Soros will die poor. Destitute, actually.
at least in prison he had a bed and food but I have no fear he will be back to scamming the masses in no time.
This happened in DTLA! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP76ty8jdSB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
That video may very well be the only good thing to come out of "Flower Drum Song," that wretched abomination.
I'd like to report that at the small rally I attended today in a small town, I'm thinking a couple hundred people there, WAAAY more people in jacked up pickup trucks honked, waved, or gave thumbs up than didn't. It was shocking. Also two tractor trailer drivers honking a lot. It was really really good.
In one truck, the driver gave us the finger but the passenger gave us solidarnosc.
Proud of my hometown, too. Way to go, Chicago!
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/18/thousands-gather-to-protest-trump-at-chicagos-no-kings-rally-downtown/
We had a good couple hours at the protest here in Nevada County, Grass Valley, CA. 10:30-12:30. Easily twice the number of last time, and last time was credited with 4000. Very upbeat atmosphere. Our local Indivisible chapter did a great job of organizing. There were ready-made signs to pick from. Tons of really cool like-minded people, some with very creative signs. One of my favorites was "No Faux-King Way", and "Fuck Fox News"-- the latter of which I would call "pithy", if not so creative. I took pics and videos. I would like to remind people that the Czechs booted out the Soviets after two weeks of 200,000 people rallying every day on Wenceslas Square in Prague... so keep it up people! We can do this! (We have to do this).
Just got back from the protest in my city. I have no idea how many other people were there, but I'd guess at least hundreds--if not a few thousand. I never saw any counter-protesters, and the cops didn't come at us (they seemed to be there to direct traffic), so things worked out pretty well IMO.
ETA: seems I underestimated just how many people were there. From reports I've seen, it looks more like 90,000.
Here's what happened in suburban Houston. From Houston Chronicle:
We asked Cypress No Kings protesters if they 'hate America.' Here's what they said. | Editorial
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/no-kings-cypress-houston-texas-21106367.php
Pay wall. I just can't do another monthly bill.
Opinion
//
Editorials
We asked Cypress No Kings protesters if they 'hate America.' Here's what they said. | Editorial
By The Editorial Board
Oct 18, 2025
Hundreds of No Kings protesters gather in Cypress at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston on October 18, 2025.
Hundreds of No Kings protesters gather in Cypress at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston on October 18, 2025.
Raj Mankad
If America is at a crossroads, it was all unfolding at the intersection of Farm-to-Market 1960 and U.S. 290 in the far northwest corner of the Houston suburbs.
On this withering hot Saturday morning in October, more than a thousand people lined the frontage roads at the base of a towering overpass. At 9:45 a.m., before most of the nationwide protests had started, the Cypress crowd waved their “No Kings” signs, American flags and a “Y’all means all” rainbow banner.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson characterized No Kings protests as “hate America” rallies. So a member of the editorial board asked attendees in Cypress a simple question: Do you hate America?
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
LIVE UPDATES: Hundreds of No Kings protesters march to downtown Houston City Hall
“We love America,” said Jennifer Backo, 82, without hesitation. So why then was she standing in the heat at the edge of a Houston highway? “We are afraid for our democracy,” she said. “I believe in the First Amendment. People are getting fired in the government for speaking their mind.”
Mike Faulkenberry, 48, attended the protest in an inflatable bald eagle outfit with a red-white-and-blue top hat. We asked him, as well, do you hate America?
“No, I love America,” he said. “I’m prior service. I take the oath I took to protect my country from all enemies, foreign and domestic, especially domestic, very seriously.”
The threat to the country he loves, he believes, is a descent into fascist authoritarianism. That would explain the eagle getup, only Faulkenberry said he’d tried to order a frog outfit first but none were available.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
Perhaps the last one had been nabbed by the woman across the feeder road who insisted on being interviewed in frog character. We asked the bouncy green, giant amphibian whether it hates America?
“No, in fact, the reason everyone is out here is because we love America, and the idea of America, so much that we’re not willing to lose our democratic republic to a wannabe king,” the frog said.
But why the frog outfit?
“The frog has sort of become the symbol of the boogeyman antifa that Mike Johnson is afraid of, almost as much he is afraid of naked bike riders,” the frog said, adding that “antifa is normal, antifascism is normal and anti-fascists are everywhere.”
FROM OPINION: No Kings or not, waving a sign doesn't make you a terrorist. It makes you a Texan. | Editorial
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
Is antifascism really normal? In the northwest suburbs of Houston? The area is widely considered a ruby-red stronghold. The local Cy-Fair ISD school board has a six-to-one majority of trustees who were endorsed by the Republican party.
Three of those seats, however, are on the ballot with early voting starting Monday. The slate of candidates backed by Democrats are all former educators focused on students and support for teachers rather than culture wars. They earned the endorsement of the editorial board.
Meanwhile, Republicans have splintered. The CFISD vice president, Natalie Blasingame, is challenging the board president, Scott Henry, after he did not support pay for chaplains in schools. He also changed his mind on cuts to bus routes after several children were hit by cars.
Another protest is planned Tuesday near an event where Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to speak in the area.
“It seems he’s coming into our neck of the woods because he is worried,” said Jennifer Lorenz. She co-organized the Saturday rally for Cypress/Tomball Democrats, along with Indivisible Cypress. By her count, more than 1,500 people attended.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
Among the protesters was 77-year-old retired Cy-Fair teacher Sam Loomis. Does he hate America, as House Speaker Johnson suggests?
“No,” he said, and suggested that Speaker Johnson is “covering up the Epstein files.”
He, too, said he was focused on the Constitution: “I’ve taught history for 40 years. I’ve been teaching the First Amendment for a long time. This is what the First Amendment says: You are allowed to gather and peacefully protest.”
He said book banning by the Cy-Fair board was a “bad look” and that the “gay community is being picked on, brown people are being picked on. It’s got to stop.”
By noon, all the inflatable creatures — three frogs, the eagle, a purple dinosaur, a pink Axolotl and multiple unicorns — had gone home. So had the free speech defenders in wheelchairs.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
No Kings protesters in Cypress included several inflatable creatures on October 18, 2025. They gathered at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston.
No Kings protesters in Cypress included several inflatable creatures on October 18, 2025. They gathered at the intersection of FM 1960 and U.S. 290 in far northwest Houston.
Raj Mankad
The Starbucks in the adjacent strip mall filled up with worn-out retirees cooling off.
One of the last folks to leave was Backo. She’ll be 83 on Monday, she said.
Across the country, in the downtowns of major cities, including Houston, far larger crowds gathered. No doubt, many of those protesters hold radical views out of step with many Americans.
But on FM 1960, deep in the heart of purple suburbia, we didn’t see or hear a hint of hatred for this great country.
We saw patriots waving American flags. We saw our elders out in the heat. And their message was clear: Now is the time
to speak up for the Constitution of the United States.
Oct 18, 2025
The Editorial Board
removepaywalls.com works a treat! :)
I am hearing the estimate is seven million people total? That's a lot more than the one in June.
I think it's higher. The Portland protest was more than double the numbers in June. Other cities are reporting huge numbers, too. Chicago far surpassed its June numbers (see link I posted above).
I heard 5 million in June. So not a "lot" more, imo, not to diminish the 7 million. Still pretty fekkin significant! A few thousand in Grass Valley/ Nevada City, CA.
We had +/-1000 in Bishop, on the other side of the hill.
100,000 people at NYC No Kings Protest.
Zero protest-related arrests.
That is fucking awesome! All us hamas supporters and marxists and terrorists were behaving themselves! lol.
/s (duh)
I've heard Chicago was 100,000 too.
The Portland protest was huge (police estimate is 40,000). So many inflatable costumes! Frogs, squirrels, dinosaurs, unicorns, mice (I think? maybe rats?), raccoons among others. Lots of music. Drummers under the viaduct sounded amazing. There was a brass band marching, too. Big yellow balloons with "Resist" printed on them were bounced around by the crowd like volleyballs. Bubble blowers. It was peaceful and joyful but with an underlying air of seriousness, not sure how else to describe it.
I kinda love that the inflatable costumes have become a sign of the resistance.
Across the river in Vancouver there were maybe 2,000 gathered in a park who sang the Star Spangled Banner softly with tears in our eyes.
Joyful determination in the land of Grimm.
I think your description was just fine!
Thanks! It was very peaceful considering we are war-torn and the city has been burned to the ground repeatedly for YEARS. LOL.
As someone named Bill I find the wedding bell blues to be the most obnoxious song in the world. My asshole sisters used to sing it to me.
Well, today turned out to be a bust. I woke up with a very froggy throat, and my son came down with whatever virus I've been getting over. So we stayed home and surfed the internet for pictures and video of protests around the country. And the world! I guess you could say we protested vicariously.
Developed condition making it inadvisable to be more than 15 seconds from a toilet. Stayed home and fumed. My housemate went, though; ABQ was out in force. No problems at all.
Feeling any better?
A little better, thanks.