Hundreds of people gathered for a “No Kings” protest at Southlake Town Square on Saturday, one of many across North Texas and the nation.
During the rally, the crowd chanted slogans like “No kings,” “Vote them out” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
The protests were organized locally by Fort Worth Area Indivisible, Indivisible TX-12 and Indivisible TX-24 in opposition to President Trump and his administration’s policies.
Several people who attended a “No Kings” protest in Southlake held up signs on Saturday morning, March 28, 2026. The speakers included Alisa Simmons, a Democratic Tarrant County commissioner who is running for county judge. Fousia Abdullahi fousia.abdullahi@star-telegram.com
This was one of more than 20 rallies scheduled for Saturday, including one later in the day in downtown Fort Worth that also attracted a large crowd. In Dallas, at least one person was detained after a clash with counter-protesters.
The Southlake protest had three speakers: Alisa Simmons, a Democratic Tarrant County commissioner; Tiffany Burks, a Democrat running for district attorney; and Maryellen Hicks, who has spent over 50 years as a lawyer and judge in Texas.
Simmons told the Star-Telegram that she believes the large turnout reflects that residents are fed up with the state of healthcare, affordable housing and education.
“I think they have had it with what they’re seeing nationally and they have been paying attention to what’s happening locally, their school boards, city councils and in the county,” Simmons said.
Simmons is challenging Tim O’Hare, the incumbent Republican Tarrant County judge, this November. She compared the county commission’s rules about public speakers at meetings to “fascism.” In February, the commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to adopt a new public comment policy that reduces speaking opportunities.
“They’re sick of the authoritarianism, and the fascism all of that, that is clearly displayed in a commissioners court meeting,” Simmons told the Star-Telegram. “When our county executive is ejecting people from court, violating freedom of speech and just all sorts of roadblocks to just everyday, average citizens coming to address their elected officials.”
Protestors march around the park in front of Southlake City Hall chanting and holding “No Kings” signs during a rally on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Fousia Abdullahi fousia.abdullahi@star-telegram.com
A small group of Indivisible TX-24 members has been regularly protesting on Saturday mornings outside the nearby Apple Store. Saturday’s crowd was much larger.
“We were just thrilled with the number of people that showed up today to stand up and say in America we don’t do kings, we don’t do thrones,” said Buddy Luce, an organizer with Indivisible TX-24. “I think a lot of it has to do with people are fed up with people acting like kings here in Tarrant County and particularly in Southlake.”
Some in the crowd wore military clothing, veteran hats or pins to highlight their service and show why they felt it was important to be out in support of the Constitution.
A crowd gathered at the Rustin and Family Park in Southlake Town Square for a “No Kings” protest on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Fousia Abdullahi fousia.abdullahi@star-telegram.com
Freddi Lee Howell, whose father served in the Army, and her daughter Jennifer Norlie said they came because they do not want to live in a tyrannical nation.
Howell tearfully said that her father lost four years of his life to defend freedom and she does not want to see that freedom eroded.
“ICE arresting people that are citizens and putting them in camps and their families not hearing from them, it’s a repeat of history,” Norlie said. “Anyone who is a student, who has learned history should know that.”
Marcy McTaggart said she was tired of everything that is happening nationally.
“Everything’s going wrong and it’s due to one man and his Congress who won’t do anything about him and rein him in,” McTaggart said.
Benny Delavega, who led the march, said the large turnout in Southlake demonstrates a shift is happening. One police officer estimated the crowd to be over 1,000.
“It shows me that a lot of people are affected by what’s going on here today,” Delavega told the Star-Telegram. “It shows me that politics is not just something that happens in Washington anymore, but that it affects people right here.”
A few people yelled at the crowd as they passed by the protest. Some gave the middle finger. Those who yelled were drowned out by the chanting and singing. A Southlake police officer was nearby and the situation did not escalate.
Much like other events at Rustin and Family Park, the streets immediately within the park itself were closed but shoppers were able to park on both sides of the streets nearby.
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 4:48 PM.