Hundreds of protestors turned out for the Corpus Christi No Kings 3.0 protest at Oleander Point in Cole Park on March 28, part of nationwide opposition to the current actions of the federal administration.
Protesters lined Ocean Drive, holding signs addressing many issues in the American public eye: the Iran war, rising gas prices and the cost of tariffed items, issues with Immigration Customs Enforcement and disapproval of authoritarianism targeting specific ethnic minority groups. The movement is named in direct opposition to President Donald Trump, citing his overuse of federal power.
The No Kings 3.0 protest, named for the third time it is occurring nationwide, amassed an estimated count of 8 million participants all over the country according to organizers. The numbers make this the largest turnout of a No Kings event, as well as the largest single-day protest in United States history.
Organizers hope to raise awareness of all these issues, especially with people who don’t follow politics or the news.
“During the American Revolution, 40% of the colonists were patriots, 20% were loyalists, and 40% were neutral – didn’t really care,” said Del Mar College history professor Jim Klein, a security team member for the No Kings demonstration who has attended all the Corpus Christi events. “And it’s the same thing today. A lot of people don’t know what’s going on, so anything we can do like today is gonna help to raise awareness. People are gonna stop by wondering ‘Why are people carrying all these damn signs?’”
The local protesters also used the opportunity to highlight issues directly affecting the Coastal Bend, namely the area’s continuing water crisis. A common critique is the city government’s lax drought exemption for industry.
“Because right now residents are required to cut back, we’re at Stage 3 of drought restrictions; industry is not. We think that should change,” Klein said. “So [the protest] serves a second purpose.”
Petitioners at the event gathered signatures to change the city charter to end drought exemptions for industry, along with informing the public how to get involved and educated about the state of Corpus Christi’s water issue.
