Thousands March for ‘No Kings’ Protest in San Antonio

San Antonio — Thousands marched in downtown San Antonio on October 18, 2025, for the nationwide “No Kings” protest against the Trump administration.

The rally, which began at Travis Park, was reported to be mostly peaceful. Local elected officials participated in the event, and organizers used the gathering to push for increased civic engagement ahead of upcoming elections.

Key details

The protest was mostly peaceful and began at Travis Park. Local Democratic officials addressed the crowd, and attendees displayed a range of signs and chanted slogans expressing opposition to the current administration.

Democrats including U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio), Greg Casar (D-Austin), and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) addressed the crowd. Organizers also encouraged participants to connect with one another and to take concrete steps toward electoral engagement in the months ahead.

Protesters held signs with slogans such as “All power to the people,” “No Kings,” “We the people,” and “Democracy yes! Dictators no!” Demonstrators chanted phrases like “hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go” and “this is what democracy looks like.”

Participants represented a range of ages and backgrounds. One attendee referenced family history and expressed concern about national political trends. Another elderly couple reported repeated participation in protests this year and cited specific civil liberties and immigration concerns as motivating factors. Organizers noted the diverse and civic-focused nature of the crowd.

Notable participant reports and incidents

• Isabel Kalb, 23, expressed concerns about the current political climate, referencing her grandparents’ survival of the Holocaust and fearing the U.S. is descending into fascism.
• Phillip and Norma Canedo, both 76, stated they had protested ten times this year, emphasizing their concern for freedom of speech and immigrant rights.
• Protesters included a diverse array of participants, such as Mary Claire Munroe, who wore a pickle costume to symbolize her optimism about the nation.
• An incident occurred involving three individuals wearing “Make America Great Again” hats who were briefly present among the protesters.

Local and state responses

State-level security measures were taken in some areas ahead of similar events. Governor Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard in Austin prior to the protest, labeling the events as “antifa-linked.” Local officials also responded to property damage tied to the movement; graffiti connected to the protest appeared in North Side areas, including on a church, and a District 9 council member publicly condemned the damage as vandalism.

Scope and context

The protest was the second “No Kings” event and the third mass movement against Trump in 2025. National organizers reported large-scale participation across the country. Protest movement websites claimed over 7 million people attended more than 2,700 events nationwide. Earlier in 2025, a significant “No Kings” protest occurred on June 14, 2025, which focused on opposition to a planned military parade that coincided with the former president’s birthday.

Reactions to the nationwide set of events varied politically. Some conservative politicians characterized the demonstrations as unpatriotic in tone, while other commentators and participants framed the gatherings as expressions of First Amendment rights and civic duty.

What organizers asked participants to do next

Organizers used the San Antonio event to urge attendees to build networks and to pursue electoral engagement, emphasizing voter registration, volunteer organizing, and turnout efforts in forthcoming elections.