Dozens of protesters gathered at Cole Park for the fourth ‘No Kings’ rally in Corpus Christi. 3NEWS spoke with folks who share what brought them out.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Dozens of Corpus Christi residents gathered along Ocean Drive on Saturday as part of a nationwide “No Kings” rally, joining demonstrations held across the country.
The event, organized locally by Indivisible Coastal Bend, took place at Cole Park, where protesters lined the roadway with signs, chants and honking horns to share their message. Organizers said the movement spans thousands of events globally, with this being their fourth rally held in Corpus Christi.
“The Statue of Liberty costume, you know, ‘liberty, not tyranny,’ which I think is what we’re facing right now,” protester Jeanne Leonard said, who was dressed as lady liberty.
Leonard was among several participants using creative displays to express their concerns, which ranged from immigration policies to international conflicts.
“I’m not happy about all of the atrocities that have gone on with the immigration, deporting citizens. I’m not happy with the war of choice in Iran that’s costing us billions of dollars,” Leonard said.
Other protesters echoed similar frustrations, pointing to recent violence and global tensions.
“The war in Iran and what happened, the last couple of months with the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good for no reason at all,” protester Oliver Penta said.
Those issues were reoccurring themes.
“His war that he started and doesn’t know how to finish. And also all the rights for women and marginalized communities,” protester Susie Moore Bennett said.
For some, the rising cost of living was another driving factor behind attending the rally.
“I’m retired. I don’t have to worry about rent or making a mortgage payment anymore. That’s behind me. But for the people who still have to do that, have to pay that, have to go to the store and see increased prices,” protester Dennis Ballweg said.
Stacie Garrecht, leader of Indivisible Coastal Bend, said the rally’s message is rooted in opposition to what organizers describe as threats to democratic values.
“America has been king free since 1776 and we want to keep it that way,” Garrecht said. “Trump has made $1.4 billion personally in his presidency. So while everybody is feeling at the pump and at the grocery store, he’s profiting off of his presidency.”
The demonstration remained peaceful. While there was no heavy police presence, Corpus Christi police were seen periodically driving by and stationed nearby.