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CARROLTON — Thousands of North Texas residents, including many from Farmers Branch, joined millions across the country Friday for the “No Kings” protest, a nationwide demonstration held on Flag Day in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric.
In Carrollton, organizers and police estimated between 700-1,000 people gathered along Josey Lane and the President George Bush Turnpike. Events were also held in Dallas, where crowds peaked at about 10,000, and smaller rallies took place in Denton, Frisco and Fort Worth. Across the region, attendance totaled in the tens of thousands.
Nationwide, organizers estimate between 4-6 million people participated in more than 2,000 cities, according to figures reported by the Associated Press. Unverified social media posts have circulated higher estimates, up to 11 million, but those claims remain unsupported by independent sources.
The Carrollton protest was one of the most organized in the northern suburbs, drawing longtime residents, first-time demonstrators and local activists.
Judy Clay, a Carrollton activist and leader of the local Democratic club, helped coordinate the event. “It went well, no one got hurt," she said. "No one fell into traffic, which was what I was worried about. It was gratifying to see so many turn out – it’s like everyone knew this was important.”
Carrollton Police maintained a low profile, monitoring the protest primarily with drones and providing logistical support. Officers later said the crowd dispersed peacefully and cooperatively.
Lyn Abercrombie, a 47-year Carrollton resident who helped hold the northern line of the march, said she had never joined a protest before 2025 but has attended 13 this year alone. “It’s the first [protests] I’ve ever done,” she said. “We’ve done other rallies and there’s been no problem.”
Mike Dooling, a Marine Corps veteran and Carrollton resident, emphasized the need for discipline and message unity. “Making sure we remain a peaceful demonstration, I do not like what’s going on,” he said. “Peaceful protests do work.”
Organizers say the event was also about building relationships and expanding networks. “We used our protest to find people, give people information on how to join us,” Clay said.
At least three groups from Farmers Branch took the Dallas Area Rapid Transit train to the protest in Dallas.
“We found our tribe,” Elizabeth Villafranca, a Farmers Branch resident, local business owner and Farmers Branch city councilmember, said. “In this country, we believe in the Constitution, in due process and in the rule of law. We must be vigilant, because our democracy is fragile, it can be lost in the blink of an eye.”
Villafranca called the demonstration “patriotic,” emphasizing that peaceful protest was a cornerstone of American values. “If you’re not worried about what’s happening, you’re not paying attention.”
The protest originated from an online campaign called “No Kings,” a grassroots response to what organizers describe as increasingly authoritarian rhetoric and symbolism in American politics. The event was intentionally scheduled to coincide with Flag Day and the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, which also marked the same day President Trump held a highly publicized military parade in Washington, D.C. Some demonstrators viewed the parade, complete with flyovers and armored vehicles, as a spectacle intended more for the president’s birthday, which falls on June 14, than for honoring service members.
By contrast, “No Kings” rallies emphasized civil liberties, democratic norms and resistance to what many called the politicization of the military.
While precise national totals are difficult to verify, attendance estimates from organizers and media outlets, including the AP, Guardian and major regional papers, suggest between 4 and 6 million people took part. That would make “No Kings” one of the largest coordinated protest movements in U.S. history, rivaling the Women’s March in 2017 and the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations in scope.
