Texas Governor Prepares for Protests

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has directed the Department of Public Safety and the National Guard to prepare supplies for the capital city of Austin, anticipating what he referred to as “Antifa-related protests.”

In a statement made public, Abbott said, “Today, I instructed the Department of Public Safety and the National Guard to send troops to Austin in advance of Antifa-related protests. Texas will not tolerate chaos. Those who destroy property or commit acts of violence will be swiftly arrested. Law and order will be enforced.” He made these remarks in a newspaper article on Thursday.

While Abbott did not specify the details of the protests, there are multiple “No Kings” events scheduled nationwide for Saturday, including one in Austin.

The ACLU’s Deputy Director of Justice, Ellen Flenniken, emphasized that “Millions of people are expected to peacefully protest at more than 2,700 No Kings events across the country on Saturday. While President Trump and his allies are sending troops into cities to intimidate and silence us, the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to continue exercising them.”

Austin’s Mayor, Kirk Watson, noted on Thursday that the National Guard was ready to support the Texas Department of Public Safety and would act if the need arose. He mentioned that the National Guard wouldn’t be visible on the streets unless there was an urgent requirement.

In response to Abbott’s actions, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder criticized the governor for allegedly employing authoritarian tactics and threatening citizens exercising their First Amendment rights.

It’s interesting, really; amidst all of this, Abbott seems to be aligning with some of the strategies used by former President Trump, especially following Trump’s recent executive order designating Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.”