No Kings Protest SATX: Visuals

No Kings, Just Voices
By Bastion DeNine
Photography by Kris Lopez

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SAN ANTONIO — July 14, 2025. Heat rose from the pavement on Houston Street as chants echoed from Main Plaza to the steps of the Alamo. Under the shade of Travis Park’s oak trees and beneath banners that read “NO KINGS,” hundreds of San Antonians gathered to protest what they see as unjust immigration enforcement, the militarization of sacred civic spaces, and the creeping erosion of democratic values.

The No Kings protest, led by a coalition of grassroots organizers, artists, and immigrant rights advocates, unfolded across downtown with stunning visual clarity—captured in real time by The Down Market’s own Kris Lopez. His photography reveals not just a protest, but a city that showed up: diverse, determined, and dignified.

“I’ve covered concerts, marches, and vigils, but this one felt different,” said Lopez. “It was peaceful. It was powerful. I’ve never felt more part of the civic process.”

Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to deploy the National Guard to the Alamo was met with raised eyebrows. The soldiers stood in a silent, still row behind barricades—present, but unengaged. Meanwhile, the crowd moved with intention: families, elders, students, workers—all gathered under the same cause. Their signs read “Abolish ICE,” “No Borders on Stolen Land,” and “We Build Communities, Not Cages.”

There were agitators, yes—there always are—but they didn’t win the narrative. San Antonio Police Department officers, to their credit, worked closely with protest organizers to de-escalate and maintain the spirit of the event. This wasn’t about chaos. It was about clarity. It was about showing up for your neighbors when history calls.

The Down Market stands with this movement. We stand with the protestors, the organizers, and the people who believe that America can be more than fear and detention. We proudly condemn the continued targeting of immigrant communities and the federal policies that criminalize humanity.

At a time when the country feels divided at the seams, it’s easy to feel powerless. But San Antonio reminded us: the people still hold the mic. No kings. Just voices. And on that July afternoon, they were loud, they were clear—and they were right on time.