By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews.com
On a day meant to honor the American flag, hundreds of Collin County residents are planning to rally beneath it.
This Saturday, June 14 — which also marks President Donald Trump’s birthday — McKinney will be among more than 1,800 communities participating in a nationwide “No Kings” protest, a coordinated demonstration against what organizers describe as creeping authoritarianism in American politics.
The local protest is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to noon at 2025 N. Central Expressway, near the intersection of US-75 and SH 380. It is being organized by the Collin County Democratic Party and grassroots volunteers and is expected to draw well over 1,000 attendees.
“In America, we don’t bow to would-be kings,” said Jeremy Sutka, Chair of the Collin County Democratic Party. “Trump and his allies have cracked down on free speech, detained critics, threatened to deport citizens, and defied the courts, all while serving their billionaire backers. But here in Texas, we know our history: Our founding fathers stood against tyranny, and so will we.”
The event will proceed rain or shine, and organizers have encouraged attendees to bring American flags and signs in support of democratic principles. Though partisan in tone, the protest has been explicitly billed as peaceful and patriotic.
The “No Kings” movement, promoted nationally by NoKings.org, is one of the most broadly coordinated protest efforts since the summer of 2020. According to the national site, the June 14 day of action is intended to highlight threats to civil liberties, voting rights, and democratic norms.
Congressional candidate Evan Hunt, who is running to represent Texas’ 3rd District, voiced support for the protest’s aims in a written statement.
“Protest is the heart of a healthy America. We must show that we will no longer be divided by fringe issues, hateful dialogue, and extremist agendas,” Hunt said. “We must be undaunted by threats and fear-mongering. And more importantly, we must be peaceful and patriotic… This is a battle for America’s soul, so we can’t afford to look anti-American.”
Hunt encouraged participants to carry American flags and protest peacefully, invoking the legacy of the civil rights movement. “We must be loud and proud of our diversity, our immigrant heritage, and our vision of what America could be and should be — all at the same time,” he said.
Heightened Security Measures
The protest comes amid intensified security across Texas. Governor Greg Abbott announced earlier this week that more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and over 2,000 Department of Public Safety officers have been deployed across the state in advance of the weekend’s demonstrations.
“Peaceful protests are protected in Texas,” Abbott said in a June 11 statement. “But harming a person or property is illegal and will lead to arrest. We will not allow the chaos seen in other states to take root here.”
State officials say the troop presence is intended to support local law enforcement and prevent potential unrest. Protest organizers in McKinney have stated their intent to maintain a peaceful and respectful tone throughout the event. Volunteers will be on hand to distribute water, assist attendees, and help ensure public safety.
Another Event the Same Day
While the McKinney protest unfolds Saturday morning, Congressman Keith Self will host a separate event later that afternoon in Farmersville. According to an email from his office, Self will hold a town hall titled “Koffee with Keith” — intentionally spelled with a “K” — at 1:30 p.m. at Collin College’s Farmersville campus.
Attendees must pre-register in advance, reside within Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, and present valid ID at check-in, which begins at 12:30 p.m.
The event is limited to a very small number of constituents — reportedly around 60 attendees — and spots were filled on a first-come, first-served basis via a registration link shared in the congressman’s newsletter. The cap has prompted criticism from some local residents, who have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of open, face-to-face access to their representative.
Self has held relatively few public town halls since taking office in January 2023, and many of those have been invite-only telephone events. While he has continued to post actively on social media, including sharp commentary on national protests and immigration issues, critics say the congressman has not consistently engaged with constituents in an open forum.
In recent days, Self’s official X account has accused Democrats of “supporting riots” and “siding with foreign criminals.” However, he has not directly commented on the “No Kings” protest or the Collin County event.
A County at a Crossroads
With two events taking place on the same day — one a large, public demonstration and the other a small, tightly managed forum — the contrast underscores the divided political landscape of Texas’ 3rd Congressional District.
Organizers of the McKinney protest stress that their message is not about any single figure, but about preserving the basic freedoms of speech, protest, and democratic participation.
“What makes America resilient is our freedom to speak, to gather, and to call for change — even when it’s hard,” Sutka said. “That’s what this protest is really about.”
More information on the protest can be found at NoKings.org, and participants can RSVP for the McKinney event at mobilize.us/collindemocrats.
The event is open to the public and expected to proceed regardless of weather. Organizers anticipate a diverse crowd of longtime activists, first-time voters, and local residents across the political spectrum. Planners have repeatedly stressed the importance of peaceful, nonviolent protest, urging participants to follow in the tradition of past civil rights movements and remain respectful, no matter the circumstances.