The Kingwood, Texas #NoKings Protest was more successful than anyone in this purportedly very conservative town could imagine.
Kingwood, Texas #NoKings Protest
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Summary
In what is considered a conservative stronghold, the #NoKings protest in Kingwood, Texas, shattered expectations with an overwhelming show of grassroots power and community resolve. Organized by Cindi Hendrickson and Indivisible Kingwood, the event drew hundreds of people to gather peacefully, affirming their commitment to democracy and protesting against authoritarianism and inequality. From a modest sign-up list to a turnout of nearly 700 participants, the protest demonstrated that progressive voices in suburban America are not only alive but also growing louder and more assertive.
- Grassroots Organizing Paid Off: Cindi Hendrickson and Indivisible Kingwood coordinated sign-making events and worked with local law enforcement to ensure safety, transforming potential threats into a successful mobilization.
- Unexpectedly Large Turnout: Although only about 90 had registered online, the protest swelled to an estimated 660–700 participants, far surpassing previous events, such as Occupy Kingwood, which had peaked at around 50.
- Positive Community Response: Instead of anticipated hostility, the crowd was met with honks of support from passing vehicles, including business vans and truck drivers, signaling broader public approval.
- Professional Police Conduct: Unlike many past progressive protests, this event was marked by unusually respectful and professional behavior from law enforcement officers, fostering a peaceful and cooperative atmosphere.
- Counter-Protest Neutralized: A small group from the white supremacist Patriot Front attempted to stage a counter-protest but was outnumbered, ignored, and neutralized mainly by the sheer scale and unity of the #NoKings demonstrators.
The Kingwood #NoKings protest stands as a testament to the power of persistence, solidarity, and grassroots activism. In the face of right-wing extremism and efforts to silence dissent, everyday Texans showed up in force to demand a just democracy and an economy that works for all. Their turnout and passion sent a clear message: the so-called “silent majority” is no longer silent, and it does not belong to the MAGA right. As long as citizens stay civically engaged and resist complacency, the arc of justice will continue bending toward victory.
Cindi Hendrickson and several of her Indivisible Kingwood members worked assiduously to prepare for this No Kings Protest. They had sign-making events. They contacted law enforcement for the safety of the attendees.
Several threats concerned her. But she was advised that these were paper tigers with large barks but little bite. After all, there would be a few Kingwood seasoned activists there. There were about 90 people who had signed up on the site. But as every organizer will tell you, only a fraction of those who sign up ultimately make it to the event.
I decided to arrive at the event about 30 minutes early. I figured there would be a few people to interview. To my pleasant surprise, there were already one hundred or so people there, with a steady stream of arrivals. At that point, I knew it was a good day. Before we started, the lead organizer, Cindi, gave a pep talk to the protesters and advised them not to engage with any MAGA supporters who would try to disrupt.
A police officer followed, explaining the rules governing the material of the sign poles. As one tries to remain distant from police officers at all costs, I was impressed by the demeanor and respect the police officers showed to the event and its participants. I have done many protests, and too often, police officers treat progressive-leaning protests with disgust, distance, and disrespect. This was not the case today, and I want to commend the professionalism and kindness of every officer at the event.
Rallies and protests are not easy in Kingwood. A group of us organized Occupy Kingwood in 2012. It was 52 consecutive Saturdays of protest. We were fortunate to have a consistent group of around a dozen or two people. Not until the week 52 finale did we have just over fifty participants. By the middle of the No Kings’ protest, the crowd size had grown to between 660 and 700 people, far exceeding our wildest expectations.
The response to the protest was even more impressive. We expected a lot of middle fingers and negativity. The honks of approval vastly exceed the ‘middle finger attacks.’We got big horn-hunks from many business vans and truck drivers.
I livestreamed virtually the entire event. This was the first time that I livestreamed from the field into Substack. The quality is less than desirable. But I see segments with interviews that you will find powerful. I will release it in a subsequent post, as extracting those is somewhat tedious.
The signs laid out the sentiments of most Americans. They were well written. Some were funny. There was even some with a sprinkle of deserved profanity. Check them out in the slideshow below.
An hour into the protest, we were informed by the police officers that a counter-protest had arrived. They asked the group to leave one of the four corners. The No Kings group peacefully dispersed to the other three corners.
Who was that counter-protesting group? It was no other than the white supremacist neo-fascist group Patriot Front. There were fewer than ten of them staging with a huge anti-immigrant banner. Most of them had their faces covered cowardly. The police officers initially allowed me into their space to interview them, but when I was ignored by most, they apologetically escorted me away.
There were a couple of childlike men speeding down West Lake Houston Blvd. in their pickup trucks with their typical silly flags. The sheer number of protesters seemed to neuter many would-be counter-protesters as they finally realized that there is a silent majority, and it is not them.
One must be proud of the residents of Kingwood and he surrounding areas who came out to protest. The passion and resolve not to cede their freedom and earned benefits were palpable.
As long as all Americans like these protesters realize that Democracy and the fight for a fair economy is a full-contact sport that is won only by those who remain forcefully engaged, winning is inevitable.
I have photos and videos from other events in the Houston Metropolitan area and will release more based on reports from attendees of those protests. Suffice it to say this was a very successful day in national protest, far exceeding the ‘large’ protest by the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and many others.
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