Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday he is deploying state troopers from the Department of Public Safety and members of the Texas National Guard to Austin ahead of a “No Kings” protest scheduled for Saturday. Governor Abbott stated the move is intended to enforce “law and order,” claiming the demonstration is “Antifa-linked.”
“Texas will NOT tolerate chaos. Anyone destroying property or committing acts of violence will be swiftly arrested,” Gov. Abbott wrote on social media, but did not provide evidence to support his claim of affiliation with Antifa, a loose grouping of left-wing activists. The nationwide No Kings demonstrations, which protest the Donald Trump administration, do not appear to have a central organizing structure.
In response, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed commitment to protecting the right to peaceful assembly and stated the National Guard would not be called upon “unless there is a determination that there is an emergency need.”
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“I don’t condone the militarization of our streets,” Mayor Watson added, criticizing the deployment as playing into fear-based politics.
Michael Bullock, President of the Austin Police Association, affirmed the department’s preparation to facilitate peaceful protest while being ready to address any criminal behavior. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed its Homeland Security division will be monitoring the event for possible terror links and prepared to make arrests for law violations.
The deployment follows recent similar claims, including Transport Secretary Sean Duffy and Sen. Roger Marshall, who have alleged that the No Kings demonstrators are “paid protesters” with ties to Antifa or funded by George Soros.
The No Kings organizers have countered recent political criticism by stating their protests are about saying “America belongs to its people, not to kings.”
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