AUSTIN, Texas — Hundreds of protesters assembled outside the Texas State Capitol on Wednesday as part of a nationwide demonstration against President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders and a conservative policy initiative known as Project 2025.
The Austin protest featured demonstrators chanting “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.” Participants carried signs reading “Immigrants make America great” and “Deport Elon [Musk],” according to CBS Austin’s Jahmal Kennedy.
Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition was among those present.
“My hope is that people take today as a launchpad to continue to show up in some form of capacity,” Moore said.
Organizers distributed statements outlining several demands, including calls for Trump to step down or face impeachment, and investigations into Trump-appointed officials.
“Our goal is to unite the American people against our common enemy: the Trump administration,” read one statement from organizers.
The protest began on the Capitol steps and continued with a march down South Congress Avenue. Moore emphasized the importance of citizen involvement.
“I think it’s really important again for people, for the citizens and residents of Texas, to come out and say, ‘We’re here for you. We love you, and we embrace you, and we’re gonna fight for you and protect you as much as we can.'”
Immigration was a key topic at the protest. One of President Donald Trump’s initial actions upon returning to office was signing an executive order aimed at mass deportations.
Protester Patricia Cantu highlighted the economic impact of immigration policies.
“Immigration is huge because it’s going to affect all of our finances when we can’t get fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu echoed Cantu’s concerns.
“We’ve screamed and advocates have screamed that immigrants built this country and this country would start to choke if you got rid of the immigrants, whether they’re here legally or illegally,” Wu said.
Wu also emphasized the importance of speaking up if you feel immigration or any other policy important to you is in under attack.
“If you’re concerned that getting rid of immigrants in this country is going to shut the economy down, you better say something,” he said.
Cantu said immigration isn’t all that’s at stake right now in the country.
“Immigration is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “Because there are so many other issues. From Treasury, from the Education Department, from TSA, from our safety.”
Many who attended the protest displayed signs speaking out against the current Trump Administration and its actions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has praised the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts, met with the president at the White House on Wednesday. Abbott posted on X that he discussed immigration enforcement strategies with Border Czar Tom Homan and expressed optimism about the future, stating that the coming days should be great for Texas.
The Austin protest coincided with similar demonstrations at other state capitols across the country, according to the Associated Press. Protesters are responding to Trump’s recent executive actions on immigration, trade, and climate change in the opening weeks of his term. The protests specifically targeted Project 2025, which AP described as a “hard-right playbook for American government.”
