An estimated 1,200 people gathered Saturday at the corner of Valley Mills Drive and Waco Drive — an intersection organizers call “Freedom Corner.”
As drivers passed by, many honked in support of the protesters.
Sandra Swoveland leads the Waco chapter of Indivisible, a national progressive organization. Her local group, Those Meddling Kids, helped organize the “No Kings” protest in Waco.
“It’s easy to feel like a blue fish in a red sea,” Swoveland said. “With these protests, everybody driving by can see and know that they are not alone.”
The “No Kings” protest was part of a second nationwide demonstration, named for accusations that former President Donald Trump’s policies reflected the actions of a monarch rather than an elected official.
Swoveland said her organization helped organize the event to hold elected officials accountable.
“What we wanted to do was hold our elected officials accountable and unmask the bad guys,” she said.
While she doesn’t expect the protests to change Trump’s mind or policies, Swoveland said she hopes those who feel affected by his actions know there are people in Waco who support them.
“At the very least, people know that we are here,” she said.
As cars continued to honk in support, protesters waved signs and flags — a reminder, organizers said, that even in deep-red Texas, dissent still has a voice.
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