Join us the last Sunday of March for HOCTX Book Club “Read For Democracy”

…featuring a short discussion with a local organizer highlighting the intersectionality topic of the book!

Austin NO KINGS 3 🚫👑 Join us Saturday, 3/28 from 1 - 4 PM at Auditorium Shores

We’re bringing you a larger than life first-amendment rally featuring music, activities, art, org tabling, and very cool people. View the NK3 digital rally map here

Want to march? Meet + March at Austin City Hall at 12pm. We will march to Auditorium Shores at 12:30pm sharp! If you can’t march, meet us at Auditorium Shores at 1:00pm!

Expect 80+ civil rights and mutual aid organizations with activities, swag, info, and ways to get involved in resistance outside of attending rallies.

We’ll have art to enjoy and co-create (remember our giant sign-able U.S. constitution?!)

+ We’re including a few ethical businesses this time

Speakers & performers: Brigitte Bandit, Jo Ellis, Dan Weber, Justice, Jeff Dazey, Dumancas-Brouse JazzCallForFreedom, Los Kurados, Stefanie Fix, Singing Resistance Austin, Sophia Mirto, Yasmine Smith, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Melody Tremallo, Valerie De Bill, Julie Ann Nitsch

We couldn’t do it without you! NO KINGS AUSTIN is 100% volunteer. We crowdfund for everything you see on the ground: water, porta potties, stage and sound infrastructure, fliers and freebies.

Sign up to volunteer here.

Donate to help us cover event costs here.

If you or your ethical business wants to sponsor a giant water tank at our event (highly visible spot to put your logo!) please fill this out.

Cool local businesses are participating in the NO KINGS nationwide day of action by donating 1% of proceed to HOCTX on Saturday, March 28. If your business is able to donate 1% to us (we will use it to pay for event costs) please email treasurer@handsoffcentraltx.org. We will hella shout you out digitally and day-of!

Indivisible’s NO KINGS is a national day of nonviolent protest in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption. AUSTIN NO KINGS is made possible by a broad coalition of individuals and orgs working together.

Read up: Understanding Law Enforcement PDF, Arrest vs. Detention: How to Tell Whether You've Been Arrested or Detained, ACLU Know Your Protesting Rights, Use of Force

We are a 100% nonviolent movement aiming to create an environment to empower the passionate resistance of Texans protesting to protect our community from state violence. We do not conflate the 1st amendment right of free speech with violence, and we do not endorse interpersonal or state violence. We demand that DPS, APD, and state and local governments protect the civil rights of every American.

We committed to peaceful, lawful action at every No Kings event. Participants are expected to de-escalate conflict and YOU and YOUR FRIENDS and FAMILY are invited - weapons are not (even if legally permitted).

We have a team of volunteer protest monitors, legal observers, and street medics coming to this event. If you would like to volunteer for any of these teams, please sign up here!

WHAT TO BRING: ID - HAT - SUNGLASSES - WATER BOTTLE - SNACK - WALKING SHOES - CASH - FLAGS - PROTEST SIGNS - EXTRA PHONE BATTERY - FRIENDS AND FAMILY - ELECTROLYTES

SAFETY: With recent escalations of state violence against people utilizing their first amendment rights, including here in Austin, we are taking security concerns very seriously. This is a pre-planned event permitted through the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Dept. We will have a volunteer team of protest monitors in highly visible clothing available for concerns, de-escalation, and support for our community.

Please consider the heat! Bring a hat, sunscreen, umbrella, fan. etc. Emergency water will be available on-site but please bring your own.

Bathrooms are available at City Hall WITHOUT going through security (outside of the building). Bathrooms will also be available at Auditorium Shores at the end of the march because we are crowdfunding porta potties again!

ADA if you want to march:

12 pm Meet @ City Hall: ADA bathrooms are available inside City Hall. ADA parking is available here also. 12:30 pm March to Auditorium Shores: We are marching down the S. First Street Bridge. Sidewalks create elevation changes and ramps are not very easily accessible getting off of City Hall property down to the road.

ADA after the march:

1-4pm rally @ Auditorium Shores: We have reserved ADA parking spots in the parking lot off Riverside Dr next to the rally (676W W Riverside Dr 78701). Volunteers can help you find the ADA spots near the main stage at the Shores, and the ADA porta potties. You are welcome everywhere! Please ask a table or volunteer if you have questions.

IMMIGRATION & LAW ENFORCEMENT: Everyone is welcome at all of our events, but we want folks to be aware of heightened immigration risk in Texas. The meetup at City Hall and rally at Auditorium Shores will be on City of Austin property, under APD jurisdiction. It is not APD policy to coordinate with ICE, but they also do not interfere in ICE arrests. **Please be careful when driving to and from the event, since DPS DOES work will ICE and has been increasingly pulling Austinites over on behalf of ICE.

TRANSPORTATION & PARKING:We are expecting a large turnout. Please carpool! We recommend parking in the paid parking lots below the Central Public Library and City Hall or using street parking. There is parking south of the Long Center, as well as North of Town Lake.

Media disclaimer: There will be media and photos/videos of this event taken and shared on the internet by participants and journalists. Feel free to wear a mask for wellness or privacy reasons, and feel free to take your own photos and videos! Tag us: @handsoffcentraltx #nokings

Languages Other Than English: ASL and Spanish interpretation will be available for the speakers at the main stage and soap boxes. Language access for other things is labeled on the digital map (coming soon!)

Nonviolent Protest Disclaimer: HOCTX and official coalition partners are committed to nonviolent civic resistance. We are utilizing our First Amendment constitutional right to protest and our right to lobby our representative government. We do everything in our power to protect the civil rights and physical safety of everyone at our events.

HOCTX has yet to have any notable incidents of safety issues at any of our events. Let’s keep it that way! This is not an appropriate event to consider engaging in civic disobedience or property damage. There will be heavy APD presence.

By attending our events, you are implicitly agreeing that while you attend our event, you will respect the laws and constitution of the United States and State of Texas and not create or contribute to a safety issue for our attendees and neighbors. We protect our community and defend democracy - we do not put people at risk or threaten violence.

Join us for RAISE THE VOLUME! a live music concert and community gathering at Far Out Lounge (cashless venue) on March 22 starting at 1pm. We have an incredible lineup of musicians and drag performers - doors at noon! 18+

Expect: Music, drag, art, cool people and panels dicussing how orgs and individuals can help our community in this time of crisis…

Proceeds from this event will help us cover the costs of hosting AUSTIN NO KING 3…

Join HOCTX for our monthly pro-democracy book club!

Update: Our Special Guest will be Chas Moore of Austin Justice Coalition. He will be leading the discussion for the first half hour!

Join HOCTX reps at the City of Austin’s public “community conversation” with APD Police Chief Lisa Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Chito Vela, Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes and Jose Velasquez on Tuesday, Feb 5 (new date) from 6 - 7:30 PM either in-person at Govalle Elementary Cafeteria or virtually.

RSVP for the virtual link (or to submit a question) at bit.ly/community-convo1

The format will be snacks, then a presentation, then a Q& A.

CALL TO ACTION: Stop ai mass surveillance at Austin parks and pools…

Austin City council is considering spending $400K per year from the Parks and Rec Dept budget on “mobile video surveillance units” from out-of-state ai surveillance company LiveView Technologies. These unites have ai capabilities and can even talk to people to tell them to “stop loitering.” (Aren’t parks… for loitering?)

They are planning to park these ai-enabled unites (which feed their video into a cloud database) in the parking lots of our Austin parks and pool for “deterrence” against car break-ins and “criminal activity.”

…mass surveillance is a dangerous door to open, and CCTV cameras would be a cheaper and safer way to deter crime.

HOW TO HELP: The contract is up for a vote on the 2/5 City Council Meeting Agenda. Please consider testifying on Thursday Feb 5 - our last chance to stop the contract! Sign up here to speak on Thursday, Feb 5.

Speaker registration for the February 5, 2026 Austin City Council Meeting will open Monday, February 2 at 10:00AM

We’re concerned about:

1) the impact of this video surveillance data getting into the hands of ICE, DHS, DPS, etc and about the data being hacked.

2) Spending taxpayer money on a out of state vendor when CCTV is a safer, cheaper “deterrence” alternative

3) The impact to families, young people, and POC who will be surveilled when trying to use public facilities

4) Mass surveillance, such as ai assisted cameras in public spaces, is violation of the 4th amendment to the US Constitution

Learn more about the issue here.

CALL TO ACTION: Stop ai mass surveillance at Austin parks and pools…

Austin City council is considering spending $400K per year from the Parks and Rec Dept budget on “mobile video surveillance units” from out-of-state ai surveillance company LiveView Technologies. These unites have ai capabilities and can even talk to people to tell them to “stop loitering.” (Aren’t parks… for loitering?)

They are planning to park these ai-enabled unites (which feed their video into a cloud database) in the parking lots of our Austin parks and pool for “deterrence” against car break-ins and “criminal activity.”

…mass surveillance is a dangerous door to open, and CCTV cameras would be a cheaper and safer way to deter crime.

HOW TO HELP: The contract is up for a vote on the 2/5 City Council Meeting Agenda. Before the vote, the contract AKA “Item 3” will be discussed at the 2/3 work session meeting!

If you can testify at the Tuesday 2/3 work session against Item 3, please sign up here.

Signups for in-person or virtual testimony opens at 5 PM on Jan 30. If you miss the online sign-up window, you can sign up as late as 9:40 AM at the physical kiosk at City Hall outside of the Council Chamber (in-person testimony only).

If you can’t make it on Tuesday at all, please consider testifying on Thursday Feb 5 - our last chance to stop the contract!

We’re concerned about:

1) the impact of this video surveillance data getting into the hands of ICE, DHS, DPS, etc and about the data being hacked.

2) Spending taxpayer money on a out of state vendor when CCTV is a safer, cheaper “deterrence” alternative

3) The impact to families, young people, and POC who will be surveilled when trying to use public facilities

4) Mass surveillance, such as ai assisted cameras in public spaces, is violation of the 4th amendment to the US Constitution

Learn more about the issue here.

🕯️ AUSTIN COMMUNITY VIGIL 🕯️ 🗓️ NEW DATE: Sunday, February 1st, 5-7 PM 📍 Wildflower Church, 1314 E Oltorf St
(Not organized by HOCTX)

Join HOCTX for our monthly pro-democracy book club!

POSTPONED TO FIRST SUNDAY IN FEB

Join HOCTX for our monthly pro-democracy book club!

Join us on Tuesday, January 20 from 2 - 4 PM to say ICE OUT OF AUSTIN. We’ll be joined by Austin Justice Coalition and local partners to deliver our petition to City of Austin officials. Sign the petition here: tinyurl.com/safeatx

We have over 9,000 signatures on our ICE OUT OF ATX petition in less than a week! Thank YOU ✊🔥

Why 2PM on a Tuesday? This is a national day of action for Women's March. If you can't join us for this event because of work or child care, please get on our newsletter list for other upcoming HOCTX events!

Join HOCTX coalition partner Indivisible 1431 for their weekly ICE out of Pflugerville street-side visibility protest.

READ FOR DEMOCRACY is our pro-democracy book club! We read a new book every month, then take coordinated action to defend democracy ✊

Join us for a very special Yoga & Comedy Show on Nov 28 benefitting HOCTX Mutual Aid!

You'll learn a little, laugh a lot, and feel at peace. 

Comedian Stephen Campbell's one man show about maintaining your mental health after tragic life events, coupled with yoga therapist, Sam Pullen, leading the audience through breath work, chair yoga, and meditation provides a night of laughter and feeling lighter.

Audiences have called the show "ridiculous and healing," "wholesome, hilarious and unique," and "the most Austin-y thing I've ever been to" Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind event!

Join us for very special Yoga & Comedy shows on Nov 21 & 28 benefitting HOCTX Mutual Aid!

You'll learn a little, laugh a lot, and feel at peace. 

Comedian Stephen Campbell's one man show about maintaining your mental health after tragic life events, coupled with yoga therapist, Sam Pullen, leading the audience through breath work, chair yoga, and meditation provides a night of laughter and feeling lighter.

Audiences have called the show "ridiculous and healing," "wholesome, hilarious and unique," and "the most Austin-y thing I've ever been to" Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind event!

Don't miss our “Democracy In Focus” resistance art show during Austin Studio Tour, the iconic annual Austin art festival.

Our show features the photographers and videographers who have been capturing the energy and humanity of the protests happening in the beating heart of Texas since inauguration. Experience resistance through the lens of the visual artists of HOCTX, and take home a piece of the fight.

Meet the artists + enjoy all the shows happening in the new “Austin Art" building!

Gallery Showtimes: November 8, 9, 15, 16 from 12pm – 6pm each day

Fundraiser: Art sales benefit HOCTX’s resistance work and the artists themselves through profit-sharing.

Meet our photographers and videographers:

Zach Perkins is a veteran, a photographer and a staunch anti-fascist. Using the skills he learned as a combat cameraman, Zach now employs those skills against the government that trained him. No kings in America and no boring photos from Zach Perkins.

Dane Hurt is an activist and videographer who was radicalized at the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011 when he was going to art school in NYC. Since then, he has tried to use his lens as a force for good to amplify anti-fascist voices in his community. He hopes to become a feature film writer/director.

Jacob Weber is an event photographer with more than a decade of experience in the field. To him, there is no more important, no more urgent series of events to document than this country’s descent into fascism, and the actions of everyday people who rise to resist it.

Raising awareness is an important tool in community building and a camera is a great way to amplify stories that need to be heard. It’s time we all use the skills we’ve gained to build a future that’s worthwhile.

Betsy Woldman is an Austin-based documentary photographer who has spent over a decade documenting Texas protests and local politics. An award-winning visual storyteller with over 20 honors in photography and innovation, she uses her camera to capture collective action and the fight for social change.

After 16 years as a photographer and videographer for the City of Austin, she now works full-time on projects that explore social justice, cultural identity, and community life.

Don't miss our “Democracy In Focus” resistance art show during Austin Studio Tour, the iconic annual Austin art festival.

Our show features the photographers and videographers who have been capturing the energy and humanity of the protests happening in the beating heart of Texas since inauguration. Experience resistance through the lens of the visual artists of HOCTX, and take home a piece of the fight.

Meet the artists + enjoy all the shows happening in the new “Austin Art" building!

Gallery Showtimes: November 8, 9, 15, 16 from 12pm – 6pm each day

Fundraiser: Art sales benefit HOCTX’s resistance work and the artists themselves through profit-sharing.

Meet our photographers and videographers:

Zach Perkins is a veteran, a photographer and a staunch anti-fascist. Using the skills he learned as a combat cameraman, Zach now employs those skills against the government that trained him. No kings in America and no boring photos from Zach Perkins.

Dane Hurt is an activist and videographer who was radicalized at the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011 when he was going to art school in NYC. Since then, he has tried to use his lens as a force for good to amplify anti-fascist voices in his community. He hopes to become a feature film writer/director.

Jacob Weber is an event photographer with more than a decade of experience in the field. To him, there is no more important, no more urgent series of events to document than this country’s descent into fascism, and the actions of everyday people who rise to resist it.

Raising awareness is an important tool in community building and a camera is a great way to amplify stories that need to be heard. It’s time we all use the skills we’ve gained to build a future that’s worthwhile.

Betsy Woldman is an Austin-based documentary photographer who has spent over a decade documenting Texas protests and local politics. An award-winning visual storyteller with over 20 honors in photography and innovation, she uses her camera to capture collective action and the fight for social change.

After 16 years as a photographer and videographer for the City of Austin, she now works full-time on projects that explore social justice, cultural identity, and community life.

Don't miss our “Democracy In Focus” resistance art show during Austin Studio Tour, the iconic annual Austin art festival.

Our show features the photographers and videographers who have been capturing the energy and humanity of the protests happening in the beating heart of Texas since inauguration. Experience resistance through the lens of the visual artists of HOCTX, and take home a piece of the fight.

Meet the artists + enjoy all the shows happening in the new “Austin Art" building!

Gallery Showtimes: November 8, 9, 15, 16 from 12pm – 6pm each day

Fundraiser: Art sales benefit HOCTX’s resistance work and the artists themselves through profit-sharing.

Meet our photographers and videographers:

Zach Perkins is a veteran, a photographer and a staunch anti-fascist. Using the skills he learned as a combat cameraman, Zach now employs those skills against the government that trained him. No kings in America and no boring photos from Zach Perkins.

Dane Hurt is an activist and videographer who was radicalized at the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011 when he was going to art school in NYC. Since then, he has tried to use his lens as a force for good to amplify anti-fascist voices in his community. He hopes to become a feature film writer/director.

Jacob Weber is an event photographer with more than a decade of experience in the field. To him, there is no more important, no more urgent series of events to document than this country’s descent into fascism, and the actions of everyday people who rise to resist it.

Raising awareness is an important tool in community building and a camera is a great way to amplify stories that need to be heard. It’s time we all use the skills we’ve gained to build a future that’s worthwhile.

Betsy Woldman is an Austin-based documentary photographer who has spent over a decade documenting Texas protests and local politics. An award-winning visual storyteller with over 20 honors in photography and innovation, she uses her camera to capture collective action and the fight for social change.

After 16 years as a photographer and videographer for the City of Austin, she now works full-time on projects that explore social justice, cultural identity, and community life.

Don't miss our “Democracy In Focus” resistance art show during Austin Studio Tour, the iconic annual Austin art festival. We’re stop #69.

Our show features the photographers and videographers who have been capturing the energy and humanity of the protests happening in the beating heart of Texas since inauguration. Experience resistance through the lens of the visual artists of HOCTX, and take home a piece of the fight.

Meet the artists + enjoy all the shows happening in the new “Austin Art" building!

The art show kicks off at noon on November 8 and runs for 2 weekends… but our opening night party starts at 6 PM! We’re getting all the artists together for the first time to hear from them and a few of our organizers, and revel in community and solidarity. Don’t miss!

Gallery Showtimes: November 8, 9, 15, 16 from 12pm – 6pm each day

Fundraiser: Art sales benefit HOCTX’s resistance work. You can also donate directly!

Meet our photographers and videographers:

Zach Perkins is a veteran, a photographer and a staunch anti-fascist. Using the skills he learned as a combat cameraman, Zach now employs those skills against the government that trained him. No kings in America and no boring photos from Zach Perkins.

Dane Hurt is an activist and videographer who was radicalized at the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011 when he was going to art school in NYC. Since then, he has tried to use his lens as a force for good to amplify anti-fascist voices in his community. He hopes to become a feature film writer/director.

Jacob Weber is an event photographer with more than a decade of experience in the field. To him, there is no more important, no more urgent series of events to document than this country’s descent into fascism, and the actions of everyday people who rise to resist it.

Raising awareness is an important tool in community building and a camera is a great way to amplify stories that need to be heard. It’s time we all use the skills we’ve gained to build a future that’s worthwhile.

Betsy Woldman is an Austin-based documentary photographer who has spent over a decade documenting Texas protests and local politics. An award-winning visual storyteller with over 20 honors in photography and innovation, she uses her camera to capture collective action and the fight for social change.

After 16 years as a photographer and videographer for the City of Austin, she now works full-time on projects that explore social justice, cultural identity, and community life.

Special Appreciation for the people who made our show possible:

The artists and organizers from HOCTX who imagined, organized, and executed.

Shoutout to Fendy Witch Designs for designing our mutual aid shirt, available for sale at the art show until we run out. These have been very popular, so don’t sleep if you want one…

Big appreciation for Skyline Gallery for hosting our exhibit and local printing company Holland Photo Imaging for generously discounting printing costs and giving us a quick turnaround!

Join an inflatable dance party protest outside of the Tesla Annual Shareholders meeting at 1 Tesla Rd from noon - 3 PM on Thursday, November 6! Our message: NO to a possible $1 Trillion pay package for Elon :(

Join Tesla Takedown Austin to tell Tesla NO to Elon Musk's $1 Trillion dollar pay package with two events this week! First, a rally at the TX State Capitol at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, November 5.

Then, join an inflatable dance party protest outside of the Tesla Annual Shareholders meeting at 1 Tesla Rd from noon - 3 PM on Thursday, November 6!

Join us in-person or online on Oct 26 for a interview with the author! (Interview will be live-streamed)

Submit questions for the author ahead of time by DMing @read4democracy on Instagram or emailing President@HandsOffCentralTX.org (deadline Oct 20)

READ FOR DEMOCRACY is our pro-democracy book club! We read a new book every month, then take coordinated action to defend democracy ✊