Who is Charles Marohn, Founder of “Strong Towns”?
Charles Marohn had a vision to replace the “Suburban Experiment”, as he calls it, with a pattern of development that is financially strong and resilient. He claims to advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting. He wants to “elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments.”
Marohn thinks that the expansion of rural America following the Great Depression and World War II is a bad thing, a failed experiment, as he calls it. In his book, “Strong Towns: A Bottom Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity”, Marohn recalls how he walked in the ruins of Pompeii and observed how there were two-room shops along the center spine of the town, towards the outskirts.
“With just two rooms, the family member who ran the fast-food operation in front could also keep an eye on small kids in back, taking a break from sales when times were slow and being more attentive when they were not. Thus, half the household’s parents could both create an income stream and care for young family members simultaneously.” Writes Marohn
How delightfully Norman Rockwell of them. Then, it all went terribly wrong. “We responded to the economic hardships of the 1930s and 40s by radically shifting our development pattern in order to generate growth, create jobs, and quickly build a middle class”, He says.
How dare we.
We have grown too fast … no argument there. But Marohn completely misses the mark as to why, as well as the ramifications. And his motivations are somewhat in question.
He states the problems arise because governments fund water or sewer system expansion, as well as transportation (roads) … to foster development. He links private-sector debt, where individuals take on debt as part of the development process, as being a factor in a reduced quality of life and the destruction of the small town. Somehow, the fact that people desire to live in a rural, single-family community equates to a giant, government-sanctioned Ponzi Scheme.
So, to cure this Suburban Experiment, Marohn wants to do away with single-family housing. He wants to get back to a time when people would live upstairs and sell goods out their front door…as they did in Pompeii and before the 1940s. Thus, opening the door to mixed development units in the heart of our small towns. Glorious.
But why stop there? The problem with small towns is that they are, well, small. So, his answer is to eliminate single-family zoning and allow every residential area the right to “upzone” into multi-family. How wonderful it will be when all the people of a town can come together, interact with each other, and walk to nearby shops and restaurants…he believes.
If Marohn gets his way you might want to get used to all that walking because he really wants to lock you into those small towns by cutting off funding for highway expansions. After all, if they don’t build or expand highways, you won’t leave because you won’t want to spend all that time in traffic … but that’s our interpretation, not his.
While Charles Marohn likes to hard sell his groundbreaking ideas of fiscal responsibility and accountability, in the end, it’s just a wrapper for a very old idea of Urbanism … or in this case, the Urbanization of Rural America.
As with most things in our nation, the Urbanization of Rural America is rooted in Politics. Urban areas naturally devolve into Democrat strongholds while Rural areas steadfastly remain Republican. The recent exodus of people fleeing highly populated cities in favor of green pastures has only amplified the situation.
The answer, by Democrats, is to Urbanize Rural America … to seize control. Terraform it if you will.
That’s where Marohn plays his part.
Marohn’s 501c(3) organization, “StrongTowns.org” creates educational material to help those small town Councilmen and Mayors learn how to urbanize their towns, in order to maximize revenue. Of course, this is all for the purpose of increasing the quality of life in the town. His organization produces podcasts, articles, lectures, and other resources to help small towns succeed.
The non-profit is well-funded. 2019 tax returns, the last year in which there is a record due to a backlog at the IRS, show they were raking in over $700,000 / year. Based on the rate of growth from past years, this figure could be in the millions of dollars today.
Let’s take a quick look at the Strong Towns Strategic Plan for 2022 as published from their own documents:
Wait, this looks familiar, where did we see this before? Oh yeah, the Fate Planning & Development Page:
Well, if propaganda works, why bother to change it? Cut & Clip works just fine. But it does make one wonder, who is actually setting our town policies and agenda? We, the People? Or Strong Towns?
The funny thing about leftists is that they tend to work in plain sight, right under your nose. But unless you are a born skeptic (as we are), or are skilled in recognizing leftist buzzwords (as we are), you might not even recognize that you have been fed mind-altering propaganda.
In fact, Fate’s leadership has had strong ties to the organization since at least April 2018. Mayor Billings has even bragged about the association on Facebook … because he thinks this is a good thing.
This was actually a re-post from an earlier one made in December 2017. It would seem that our Mayor drank the “Strong Towns” cool-aid a long time ago and has been gleefully putting those policies into action ever since. Did you know that?
Unfortunately, as is often the case, people are generally going about their lives and not really paying attention to local politics. And this was way before the overt attacks on liberty by the government were in the mainstream news. But now people are awake and paying attention and they are learning how the left has been actively working against the American people for decades.
But let’s get back to Charles Marohn and Strong Towns.
Marohn is not a normal leftist, he’s a special breed. He is not your typical Democrat. Definitely not a RINO Republican … and not even an Independent or Libertarian. No, those are all too mainstream for him. He’s a member of the “American Solidarity Party” (ASP). But he’s not just a member, he’s their “Number Two” on the Board of Advisors.
The ASP is sort of where Globalists, Leftists, Hippies, and Christians come together in solidarity … however, that works. They have 7 main tenants:
- Sanctity of Life
- Social Justice
- Community Oriented Society
- Centrality of the Family
- Economic Security
- Care for the Environment
- Peace and International Solidarity
The brochure looks nice. It’s very Cumbia. We’ll leave it to you to follow up with your own research on this political group as it’s not really germane to this discussion, but suffice it to say, it’s a fringe leftist group that masquerades as mainstream to suck in unsuspecting Democrats, and Marohn is right in the middle of it.
Need more? Let’s have a quick look at who is on the board of Strong Towns.
- Eliot Bostar – Democrat. Senator of Nebraska.
- Andrew Burleson – Engineer, Urban Planner
- LeVette Fuller – Democrat. Shreveport, LA Council
- Gregory Good – Democrat. Economic Development Pro.
- Gracen Johnson – Democrat. Founder of Incremental Development Alliance.
- Chitra Kumar – Planning expert at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Michele Martinez – Former Councilmember in Santa Ana, CA. Special Master on Council for Homeless
- Joe Minicozzi – Urban Planner. Founder Urban3.
- Steve Mouzon – Architect, Self Proclaimed Urbanist & Green advocate.
- Grace Olmstead – Journalist. Author of “Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind”
- Tifany Owens Reed – Journalist. Advocate for urbanization.
- Ian Rasmussen – Attorney and urbanist.
- John T. Reuter – Publisher. Former council member in Sandpoint, ID.
Again, we’ll leave it up to you to Google each of them and decide for yourselves who they are. I’m sure they all share the same values as the people of Fate.
This list of Who’s-Who in the Democrat, leftist playground seems like an odd group for our Mayor, who has claimed to be a Republican, to associate with. Don’t you think?
As of 2023, here are the Top 5 Campaigns that Charles Marohn and StrongTowns.org is advocating.
- End Highway Expansion. We seek to curtail the primary mechanism of local wealth destruction and municipal insolvency: the continued expansion of America’s highways and related auto-based transportation systems.
- Transparent Local Accounting. We seek to reveal the financial implications of the Suburban Experiment by increasing the transparency of local government accounting practices.
- Incremental Housing. We seek to have the next increment of development intensity allowed, by right, in every neighborhood in America.
- Safe and Productive Street. We seek to shift the priority of local streets from automobile throughput to human safety and wealth creation.
- End Parking Mandates and Subsidies. We seek an end to the mandates and subsidies that cause productive land to be used for motor vehicle storage.
Well, that seems nice. Who wouldn’t want all those good things? As usual, the left is REALLY GOOD at sounding benevolent but let’s dive in just a little deeper.
- Ending Highway Expansion. This is actually a page from the Green New Deal. Cars, as you know, are big pollution machines. So is construction. Ending highway expansion is one way to put up a speed bump in the way of carbon. As a bonus, it forces people to stay where they are. Nobody wants to deal with traffic so by making life miserable for commuting, you will inevitably curtail movement.
- Transparent Local Accounting. This is great, obviously. But the way you see it is much different than the way the leftist sees it. You want accountability … but they want to know where the money is … so they can take it and shape it to their agenda.
- Incremental Housing. This is code for “UpZoning”. To put it another way, Urbanization. Turning your single-family home into a duplex. Or a duplex into an Apartment building. Or an Apartment Building into a mixed-use development… and on and on. Urbanization.
- Safe & Productive Street. More buzzwords for urban development. They want people crammed into smaller spaces where they are forced to walk and ride bikes. This is their idea of a perfect town…as stated in Marohn’s books.
- End parking mandates. Again, Green New Deal. If parking is a bitch, then nobody will drive. Once again forcing people into these walking communities… because cars are bad.
All of this is for the sole purpose of urbanizing our rural communities. It consolidates power & money into the hands of the Government.
So, in the end, this brings us back to our main discussion. Why does the leadership of Fate not only associate but covet and emulate, the philosophies and methods of such a person? This seems to go much further than a benevolent “good stewardship” perspective of fiscal responsibility and capital improvement planning.
In a future expose we will delve into this more as we discover how much our Town leadership has involved themselves with the Strong Towns organization. How deep does the influence of Strong Towns have on our planning & zoning? Are they involved with our elections? We shall find out. Stay tuned.
Rockwall, TX – When money talks, it doesn’t whisper — and in Rockwall, it’s shouting from billboards, mailers, and TV ads. Behind the polished “Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD” campaign urging residents to support the district’s VATRE (Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election) lies a familiar cast of Texas developers, contractors, and political insiders — all with deep pockets and deeper interests in keeping the district spending big.
While the PAC’s glossy flyers and heartfelt slogans suggest it’s a grassroots movement of teachers and parents “standing up for students,” the campaign finance records tell a much different story. In reality, the PAC was created, funded, and operated by people who stand to gain financially from Rockwall ISD’s continued expansion.
A PAC Built by Developers, For Developers
The Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD PAC was born on August 19, 2025. That same day, it received its first $10,000 — seed money courtesy of Meredith and Ryan Joyce, owners of a land development consulting firm that works with both commercial and residential projects across Texas.
It was an auspicious start — and a revealing one. The Joyces’ business depends on district growth: more schools, more infrastructure, more construction. In short, higher taxes mean higher contracts.
A few weeks later, the second $10,000 came rolling in from Terra Manna, LLC, a real estate development and land management company led by Bobby Harrell and Bret Pedigo. Terra Manna specializes in large-scale residential projects — the very sort of developments that flood school districts with new students and new tax demands.
Then came another $10,000 from Northstar Builders Group, a firm specializing in — of all things — school construction and development. The irony practically writes itself.
If the VATRE passes, Rockwall ISD keeps spending, schools keep expanding, and developers keep building. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle of “growth” — for them.
The Builders’ Ball: Who Really Funds “Vote Yes”?
The PAC’s donor list reads less like a community support roster and more like a who’s who of Texas construction and development.
At the top tier:
- Joeris General Contractors, LLC – $5,000
- Z Constructors Nationwide – $5,000
- Matt Zahm (Z Constructors) – $5,000 (personally)
- RPRE, LLC – $3,500 (real estate brokerage and development firm)
These are not concerned citizens hoping to keep classrooms funded — these are professionals whose livelihoods are directly tied to district spending and capital projects.
Add to that a lineup of $2,500 donors, including:
- Chris Harp Construction
- Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.
- Glenn Partners (Architectural Firm)
- Billy & Julie Burton (private)
Then there’s the $2,273 in-kind donation from State Representative Justin Holland and his wife, Neely, for what they listed as “hats.”
$2,273 worth of hats? That’s either a new fashion trend in political branding — or a convenient way to funnel campaign merchandise under the radar. Holland, a familiar name in local politics, has long been an ally of the developer class, and his support here fits neatly into the pattern.
Other mid-level donors include Jason Volk Consulting, Noelle Fontes, and Brian Berry at $2,000 apiece.
At the $1,500 mark, the donor pool widens to include Elite Landscaping, PCI Construction, Skorburg Company, and Hanby Insurance, LLC — all companies that directly benefit from ongoing construction and development contracts in fast-growing communities like Rockwall.
Follow the Money — and the Math
In total, the PAC has reported $96,068 in contributions. But here’s the number that matters: $89,273 — or 93% — came from developers, builders, and real estate professionals.
The PAC’s promotional materials claim they’re “standing with teachers.” Yet only about 8% of all donations — under $1,000 each — came from teachers or district employees.
In other words, the people being used as the public face of this campaign are the least financially involved in it.
The illusion of grassroots support masks what is, in fact, a highly coordinated and well-funded lobbying effort — one aimed at convincing taxpayers to fund the very projects that enrich the PAC’s donors.
Big Money, Bigger Ads
The spending patterns are just as revealing. Since August, Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD has spent more than $27,000 on flyers and mailers, $9,000 on billboards, and even $3,000 on television ads — a heavy push for a local tax election.
They’ve also purchased $1,250 in ad space in Blue Ribbon News, the same publication that ran a “news article” touting the VATRE’s supposed benefits. The placement wasn’t coincidental — it was strategic.
And then there’s the expense that raised more than a few eyebrows: a $435.40 reimbursement to Meredith Joyce for “Car Polish Supplies.”
Car polish. From the same person who donated $10,000 in seed money.
One has to wonder what, exactly, was being polished — the campaign’s image, or something a bit shinier?
The Real Stakeholders: Not the Kids, Not the Teachers
Let’s be honest: when developers and construction firms pour nearly six figures into a local tax election, it’s not out of civic virtue or classroom compassion. It’s because they see a return on investment.
Every new bond, every tax hike, every “yes” vote translates into another round of district-funded construction — and another series of lucrative contracts.
Meanwhile, teachers — the supposed heart of the movement — are relegated to bit players. Their donations are symbolic at best, swallowed up in a sea of developer dollars.
Even worse, the campaign’s slick messaging exploits their image. Smiling teachers in front of whiteboards, holding “Support Our Schools” signs, while the fine print reads like a blueprint for cronyism.
Political Influence Runs Deep
The fingerprints of political insiders like Rep. Justin Holland only reinforce the perception that this isn’t about education — it’s about influence.
By lending his name (and hats) to the campaign, Holland helps cloak the PAC’s true motives under a veneer of community support. But his connections to the donor class are no secret.
When state legislators, developers, and contractors align to push a local tax increase, taxpayers should pause and ask: Who benefits most from this vote?
Spoiler: it isn’t the students or the teachers.
Manufactured Consent
The “Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD” campaign is a textbook case of manufactured consent. Using big money, polished marketing, and local political connections, the PAC is attempting to sway residents into supporting a measure that serves private interests far more than public good.
It’s the same formula seen across Texas — from bond packages to tax rate elections — where growth and progress are invoked as cover for sweetheart deals and endless construction booms.
Rockwall residents deserve to know who’s funding the message before they cast their ballots.
Because when nearly all the money pushing a tax increase comes from developers, builders, and their political allies, it’s no longer a campaign — it’s an investment.
And like any investment, the people writing the checks expect a return.
Bottom Line:
The Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD PAC isn’t a movement of parents or teachers. It’s a development-driven marketing operation, built to protect the flow of taxpayer money into the hands of builders, consultants, and political allies.
Rockwall voters should take note: when the people who build schools are the loudest voices demanding higher taxes “for the children,” it’s worth asking whether their real concern is education — or their next contract.
San Antonio, TX – More than 30 missing children were located and recovered during Operation Lightning Bug, a focused law enforcement initiative that stretched from July 28 through August 15. The operation, centered in San Antonio, unveiled not only the scale of child exploitation in the state but also the increasingly urgent role Texas agencies are being forced to play in combating trafficking amid a national border crisis.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), working in concert with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, spearheaded the mission. In an official release, USMS confirmed that “over 30 missing juveniles” were located, six confirmed trafficking survivors were removed from exploitation, five trafficking investigations were launched, three individuals were arrested for harboring runaways, and nine felony warrants were executed. Additionally, “over 120 missing juveniles [were] encouraged to return home, resulting in cleared entries from state and national databases.”
“The safety of our children is the safety of our communities, and justice demands that we protect those who cannot protect themselves,” said U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau for the Western District of Texas. “Through Operation Lightning Bug, we reaffirm our promise to safeguard the most vulnerable and strengthen the safety of our communities.”
SAPD Chief William McManus echoed the urgency behind the operation, stating, “Every suspect arrested, juvenile returned home, and survivor taken out of harm’s way matters. This operation demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite to protect children.”
A Deliberate Target on Traffickers
Operation Lightning Bug was highly strategic. Teams reviewed every missing juvenile listed in both the Texas Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center databases, identifying cases where minors were deemed “at high risk of exploitation by traffickers and predators.” The operation included deputies from USMS offices in San Antonio, Del Rio, Midland, and Pecos, along with specialized SAPD units, including Missing Persons, Special Victims, covert teams, and Street Crimes personnel. Intelligence gathering allowed law enforcement to prioritize the most vulnerable cases and craft operational plans that led to direct recoveries and arrests.
SAPD’s Special Victims Unit interviewed each recovered child to determine whether they had been victimized. Trafficking survivors were immediately connected with Texas Health and Human Services and partner organizations to ensure long-term safety, mental health support, and reintegration assistance.
According to data from the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, more than 330,000 minors were reported missing in the United States in 2024. While many are found quickly, those who lack stable homes or strong support systems are increasingly being targeted by trafficking rings.
Trafficking Thrives on Instability — and Policy Failure
Kirsta Leeburg Melton, founder and CEO of the Institute to Combat Trafficking, explained to Fox News that “trafficking is the exploitation of men, women and children for forced sex or forced labor by a third party for their profit or gain. That’s been around forever. What hasn’t really been around is people’s understanding of that crime and their knowledge that it’s happening everywhere.”
Melton further noted that traffickers prey on minors with “unstable home lives,” including those suffering from a lack of food, housing, family support, or emotional security. Technology serves as a primary tool for both predators and buyers, giving traffickers a near-invisible reach into vulnerable groups.
The unprecedented influx of undocumented minors during the Biden administration placed child welfare and trafficking oversight systems under intense strain—a crisis Texas law enforcement is still working to contain. By contrast, under President Trump’s term, stricter border enforcement and cartel disruption efforts made it significantly harder for trafficking networks to exploit cross-border routes at scale.
Texas Law Enforcement Takes the Lead
While Washington debates border security and trafficking enforcement in committee rooms, Texas law enforcement agencies continue to operate on the front lines. Operation Lightning Bug not only demonstrated the capability of state and federal joint task forces but also reinforced the necessity of cooperation among local agencies.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, involved in the operation, consists of personnel from SAPD, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), New Braunfels Police Department, Texas Board of Criminal Justice OIG, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Under authority granted by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, the U.S. Marshals Service now has explicit power to intervene in missing child cases regardless of whether a sex offender or fugitive is involved. This expansion allowed USMS to establish the Missing Child Unit, which now collaborates rapidly with nationwide law enforcement partners.
Operation Lightning Bug showed what can happen when that authority is fully exercised. It demonstrated what many Texans already know: when state and local agencies are given the backing, funding, and legal authority to act, children are saved, predators are taken down, and trafficking networks are disrupted—sometimes permanently.
A Crisis That Isn’t Slowing Down
In August, 11 children were reported missing in North Dakota—a state with a population of fewer than one million. Earlier, in June, authorities recovered more than two dozen children in a Florida operation described as a “first-of-its-kind missing child rescue operation.” These numbers indicate a nationwide escalation rather than isolated events.
As Texas continues to serve as a primary trafficking corridor due to its geographic proximity to the border and multiple interstate routes, state officials are increasingly forced to respond where federal leadership has not.
Child trafficking is often framed as a distant, foreign evil—but Operation Lightning Bug makes it clear: the victims live here. They disappear from neighborhoods, schools, shelters, foster systems, and broken homes. They are not statistics; they are Texas children, lost to predators who thrive in moments of policy weakness and exploit institutional gaps.
Texas Fights — Even as the Battle Grows Harder
There is no declared victory here. But there is proof of impact. Thirty children were found. Six survivors of trafficking were brought out of exploitation and into safety. Five new investigations are underway, likely mapping broader criminal networks. Over 120 missing children—some voluntarily gone, some running from abuse—were convinced to return home. Felony suspects are now in custody.
More importantly, the operation forced public attention on a crisis that prefers to operate in the shadows.
Every rescued child represents a life pulled off a path toward trauma, abuse, or death. Every warrant served sends a message that Texas still has teeth in its justice system. And every coordinated effort reminds traffickers that the state is watching.
Operation Lightning Bug is not the end—but it is a bright flash in the dark, signaling that Texas law enforcement is willing to strike, even when others won’t.
As Texas gears up for a wave of nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for Saturday, October 18, residents in major cities across the state are advised to steer clear of key downtown and civic areas to avoid potential disruptions, traffic snarls, and heightened security measures. The anti-authoritarian demonstrations, organized under the banner of opposing perceived executive overreach by President Donald Trump, are expected to draw crowds echoing the large turnouts seen in June. While organizers promote peaceful assembly, past events have occasionally spilled into street closures and increased police presence.
The “No Kings” movement, which frames itself as a grassroots push against authoritarianism, has ties to left-wing groups including Indivisible and, according to state officials, Antifa networks previously designated as domestic terrorists by President Trump. Protests are slated in at least eight Texas locales, focusing on central hubs like city halls, parks, and capitol grounds. Here’s a rundown of the hot spots to sidestep:
| City | Location/Details | Time Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | March from Houston City Hall; Rally at Discovery Green (1500 McKinney St) | Noon–2 p.m. (rally); ~2 p.m. start (march) | Downtown core; expect pedestrian crowds and possible road blocks. |
| Houston (Suburbs) | The Woodlands (Lake Woodlands Dr & Six Pines Dr); La Porte City Hall (604 W Fairmont Pkwy) | 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (The Woodlands); 10 a.m.–Noon (La Porte) | Satellite events in suburban civic spots; lighter traffic but monitor local alerts. |
| San Antonio | Travis Park | 4–6 p.m. | Downtown landmark; anticipate street closures and elevated foot traffic. |
| Dallas | Pacific Plaza (401 N Harwood St) | Noon–3 p.m. | Central business district; business commuters should plan alternate routes. |
| Austin | Meet at Texas State Capitol, march ~1 mile to Auditorium Shores | 2 p.m. start | Traverses downtown; riverfront park finale could draw lingering crowds. |
| Fort Worth | 501 W 7th St | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 7th Street corridor in downtown; entertainment district vibe with protest overlay. |
| Arlington | Arlington Sub Courthouse (700 E Abram St) | 10 a.m.–Noon | Civic center area; near courts, potential for quick law enforcement response. |
| Plano | NE corner of Preston & Parker Rd (near Wells Fargo Bank) | 10 a.m.–Noon | Commercial intersection; suburban but busy with shoppers and drivers. |
| Laredo | Jett Bowl North | 10 a.m.–Noon | Local rec landmark; public gathering spot in a border community. |
These sites were compiled from announcements by organizers and local media reports. There will be many more protests in cities of all sizes. Authorities urge the public to check city traffic apps and news updates for real-time detours.
SIDELINE: Abbott Mobilizes Guard and DPS to Safeguard Austin
In a preemptive strike against potential unrest, Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the deployment of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard to Austin, where the democrat run city is expected to be the hub of the most violent and extreme protesters. The move, announced Friday, targets the capital city’s planned march amid concerns over links to Antifa groups, which President Trump recently labeled a domestic terrorist organization.
“Violence and destruction will never be tolerated in Texas,” Abbott stated in a release from his office. The surge includes state troopers, Special Agents, Texas Rangers, aircraft surveillance, and tactical assets, coordinated with the state’s Homeland Security Division to scan for extremist ties. This echoes a similar summer operation around the Capitol during prior demonstrations.
Local law enforcement will collaborate on arrests for any acts of violence or property damage, emphasizing deterrence over confrontation. Austinites near the Capitol or Auditorium Shores should prepare for a visible security footprint.
Behind the scenes, the “No Kings” push has drawn scrutiny for its funding streams, with reports pointing to deep-pocketed backers like George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (nearly $8 million to Indivisible since 2017), the Arabella Advisors network (over $114 million to affiliates from 2019–2023), and billionaire donors such as Hansjörg Wyss and Walmart heiress Christy Walton. While much of this support flows through dark-money channels for broader civic engagement, critics argue it amplifies protest logistics and messaging.
As the sun sets on these gatherings, it’s worth a final nod to the movement’s own rallying cry: There are no kings in America. And Donald Trump doesn’t see himself as one—for if he did, he wouldn’t allow protests like this to occur in the first place. Stay safe, Texas.
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