A group of Big Bend-area residents is planning an Independence Day rally Saturday morning in Study Butte to protest proposed border wall construction, surveillance infrastructure and other federal border security projects affecting communities in far West Texas.
The event, advertised as a family-friendly gathering, is scheduled for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. July 4 at the intersection of Texas Highway 118 and Texas Highway 170, commonly known as “the Y” in Study Butte. Organizers say free breakfast tacos will be available while supplies last.
Flyers promoting the rally invoke Revolutionary War-era themes, including the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation,” alongside opposition to border walls, surveillance towers, fencing, eminent domain actions and migrant detention facilities.
The event comes amid ongoing debate over federal border security projects in the Big Bend region, including proposals for new barriers and surveillance infrastructure near federal lands and private property. Opposition groups have argued such projects threaten tourism, wildlife migration corridors, scenic views and private property rights.
Organizers also point to a lack of congressional representation for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District following the resignation of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, arguing residents currently lack a voting advocate in Congress while major federal decisions continue to move forward. The flyer also references concerns about the spread of New World screwworm, a livestock pest that has recently drawn attention from agricultural officials.
Participants interested in visiting nearby park areas after the rally are encouraged by organizers to coordinate at the event.
The demonstration is one of several Independence Day gatherings across Texas that blend patriotic themes with political advocacy, reflecting ongoing divisions over immigration policy, federal land management and border enforcement in communities along the Rio Grande.
