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Gov. Greg Abbott activated the state’s Nationwide Guard in Austin forward of deliberate Saturday protests condemning aggressive immigration enforcement.
The “No Kings” protests will probably be happening throughout the nation to talk out in opposition to the Trump administration’s mass deportation push, and the president “threatening to overhaul elections; gutting well being care, environmental protections, and schooling” in accordance with the organizers’ website.
Abbott, in a press launch, mentioned he’s directing the Texas Division of Public Security to activate the Texas Nationwide Guard due to a “deliberate antifa-linked demonstration.”
“At this time, I directed the Texas Division of Public Security and Texas Nationwide Guard to deploy all crucial regulation enforcement officers and assets to make sure the protection of Austin residents,” Abbott mentioned. “Texas will deter prison mischief and work with native regulation enforcement to arrest anybody participating in acts of violence or damaging property.”
Antifacism, additionally known as antifa, is a leftist motion opposing far-right, racist and fascist teams. Abbott’s assertion didn’t specify the connection between the deliberate protests and antifa. He additionally didn’t say whether or not he deliberate to deploy the Nationwide Guard to different Texas cities the place protests are deliberate, together with Houston, Lubbock and McAllen.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson clarified in a statement in a while Thursday that the Nationwide Guard wouldn’t be on the streets of Austin until there was “emergency want.” Watson’s and Abbott’s workplace didn’t reply to speedy questions on whether or not the Nationwide Guard would nonetheless be stationed close to the protest earlier than an emergency occurred.
Watson additionally condemned violent protests and expressed assist for peaceable gatherings.
“Let me be clear: I don’t condone the militarization of our streets,” he mentioned. “I additionally don’t condone unpeaceful acts that threaten folks’s well being or security, do harm to property, and disrupt the precise of those that need to peacefully protest.”
The governor’s transfer comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy additionally claimed earlier this week that the protests are associated with antifascism, which Trump has designated as a terrorist organization last month, in accordance with The Hill.
Related protests happened across the state in June — from McAllen to Midland — and have been largely peaceable. Abbott additionally deployed 5,000 National Guard members to these protests to “guarantee peace & order.”
Trump deployed the Nationwide Guard to Los Angeles throughout No Kings protests there in June, with out the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. A federal decide later dominated that the president overstepped his authority by utilizing federal navy forces for home issues.
Texas Democratic Celebration Chair Kendall Scudder mentioned in a press release that Abbott is “doing the whole lot he can to suck as much as Donald Trump, together with taking a web page from Trump’s authoritarian playbook, and intimidating folks exercising their First Modification proper.
“Our cities usually are not warzones or navy coaching grounds, and we don’t want an pointless show of drive on the expense of taxpayers on a peaceable protest,” Scudder added. “Greg Abbott desires to incite violence in opposition to the group and attempt to make you afraid to return out, precisely like a king or these defending a king would.”
Ayden Runnels contributed to this story.
