Thousands of demonstrators gathered in downtown Houston on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest targeting President Donald Trump and his policies. Organized by the far-left 50501 Movement, the Houston events spanned over a dozen locations, from City Hall to suburban areas like Katy and Pearland.
Houston police estimated the crowd between 4,000 and 5,000, while organizers claimed up to 15,000. Protesters held signs calling for the release of the Epstein files, criticized anti-immigration enforcement, and rallied against what they called authoritarian overreach by Trump and other officials. Participants donned inflatable costumes of chickens, frogs, and dinosaurs as part of a movement dubbed “Operation Inflation,” a theatrical effort to “deflate tension” and attract attention.
Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas headlined the event, calling Trump “lawless” and blasting his felony convictions. “Lawlessness looks like Donald Trump… Lawlessness looks like going after your political enemies just because,” Crockett told the crowd.
But Democrats weren’t spared either. Recall Houston leader Steven Saltzman attacked Mayor John Whitmire, a Democrat, labeling him a “MAGA Democrat” for what he claimed was silence on ICE raids and other issues.
The event remained peaceful, though a small group of Antifa agitators was spotted near the protest perimeter. A nearby blanket with what appeared to be projectiles was also observed by reporters.
The inflatable costumes, made famous during Portland’s 2020 protests, have become a hallmark of the 50501 Movement. Protesters claim they symbolize resistance through absurdity and joy, with frogs used to mock ICE, chickens to ridicule perceived cowardice, and dragons and unicorns representing fantasy and “radical joy.”
Despite its theatrical appearance, the protest delivered a pointed message: anti-Trump sentiment remains a powerful force on the political left, with demonstrators calling for action on everything from immigration enforcement to political transparency.
