Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that the Texas National Guard will be deployed to Austin in preparation for the nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for this weekend, citing public safety concerns. Abbott stated that violence and destruction would not be tolerated in Texas and directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard to utilize all necessary resources to maintain order. The operation will involve state troopers, Texas Rangers, and aerial support.
The decision has been met with criticism from some Democrats, who describe the deployment as an overreach. Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu expressed concern, stating that using armed soldiers to manage peaceful protests is reminiscent of practices associated with authoritarian regimes.
The “No Kings” movement is organizing over 2,600 rallies across the United States on Saturday, including significant demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and Austin. Organizers, including the ACLU, College Democrats of America, and End Citizens United, have described the rallies as peaceful protests against perceived authoritarianism.
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have characterized the events as “hate America” gatherings linked to “pro-Hamas” activists. In contrast, some Democrats, such as Senator Chris Murphy and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have encouraged participation, with Clinton calling for Americans to resist what she views as power overreach by President Trump.
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