More than 80 protesters gathered Nov. 15 on the Bandera County Courthouse lawn to voice concerns about fascism.
Sheriff Josh Teitge said he was at the event the entire time with no incidents or calls for response.
“It was an uneventful rally where both sides peacefully exercised their First Amendment right,” he told the Bulletin.
The event was organized by the Bandera County Protest Committee and was open to all to attend.
The group began assembling shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday, many dressed in black and white and holding signs expressing their views.
Most participants were from Bandera County, though about a dozen came from Kendall and Kerr counties.
The crowd skewed older, with many recalling their experiences protesting in the 1960s.
Protesters hold signs on the Bandera County Courthouse lawn on Nov. 15, highlighting issues they say reflect the “signs of fascism.” More than 80 people participated in the demonstration. BULLETIN PHOTOS/ Tracy Thayer
About a dozen trucks decorated with MAGA and Trump flags circled the block near the Bandera County Courthouse on Nov. 15, honking horns and shouting at protesters.
Participants included veterans and several grandmothers.
One grandmother said she attended for her grandchildren.
“They need to know that fascism is not acceptable,” she said.
Standing quietly outside the courthouse, protesters held placards outlining what they described as “signs of fascism,” including “oppression of women,” “gerrymandering,” “banned books” and “disrespecting veterans.”
Others carried homemade signs with personal messages.
One sign read, “My father fought fascism in 1944; I am fighting fascism in 2025.”
A handful of protesters wore masks or hats pulled low to conceal their identity, though most did not.
One participant said, “I have two sons-in-law that have businesses in town. I don’t want them to pay the penalty for my beliefs.”
Several bystanders photographed or recorded the demonstration.
A woman walking the line while filming declined an interview, responding firmly, “no.”
A few older men attempted to engage protesters in discussion.
While they were willing to debate the listed topics, they declined to address questions about the accuracy of the statements on the signs. Within minutes, protesters stopped responding to them.
About a dozen trucks decorated with MAGA and Trump flags circled the block, honking and shouting insults for roughly an hour.
Despite hearing comments such as “go home, you commies,” protesters continued standing quietly, talking among themselves and holding their signs.
They waved to passing drivers who showed support, though many motorists instead responded with a middle-finger gesture.
One woman opposing the protest skipped back and forth along the street waving a small Trump sign, but no other counter-demonstrators stopped to confront the group.
Chaplain Sig Swanstrom walked among the protesters, saying he attended to help prevent conflict.
A mediator and former police officer, Swanstrom spoke with participants and monitored the crowd in case tensions rose.
A Bandera city marshal deputy also stopped to speak with several participants and later parked across from City Hall to watch over the event.
Organizer Robert Rios emphasized that the protest had been approved by county officials.
Rios moved along the line, stopping to speak with participants.
He said Bandera residents had joined several “No Kings” protests in Kerrville and had requested a local gathering to express their views.
The protest concluded at 11 a.m., with participants storing their signs and returning to their vehicles.
Donald J. Trump carried Bandera County in the 2024 presidential election, receiving 10,913 votes, or 80.44% of the total ballots cast.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala D. Harris garnered 2,524 votes, or 18.61%, in the largely conservative county.
Third-party candidates received a small fraction of the vote. Chase Oliver captured 76 votes (0.56%), and Jill Stein received 45 votes (0.33%).
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