Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of the National Guard across the state as part of measures to “ensure peace and order” ahead of a planned protest in San Antonio. In a message posted on X late Tuesday evening, he emphasized the legality of peaceful protesting while stressing that any harm to individuals or property would lead to arrests. “@TexasGuard will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order,” he stated.
This decision comes on the heels of escalating unrest in Los Angeles, where a curfew was imposed after several days of protests following recent ICE raids. Solidarity demonstrations have quickly spread across the nation, including in Texas. Spectrum News 1 noted that a peaceful gathering took place downtown in San Antonio on Sunday in response to the recent arrests of immigrants attending court appearances.
San Antonio is preparing for more protests on Wednesday, prompting Mayor Ron Nirenberg and local police to schedule a news conference today to outline the city’s strategy for managing the demonstrations.
A significant event dubbed “No Kings Day” is set for Saturday, coinciding with former President Trump’s birthday. This protest, denouncing the Trump administration’s policies, is being organized by various groups, including the 50501 Movement, the Bexar County Democratic Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, as well as Indivisible and Women’s March. Similar actions are also planned nationwide.
In Austin, around 500 individuals gathered at the state Capitol on Monday evening to express solidarity with protesters in Los Angeles, vehemently opposing Trump’s federal immigration policies. This gathering resulted in confrontations, where local and state authorities used pepper spray and flash bang grenades, leading to over a dozen arrests, according to Abbott.
Tensions escalated over the weekend in California following the assertion of federal authority, as President Trump decided to federalize the National Guard forces against Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. Newsom condemned this move as an unnecessary provocation that increased friction between the protesters and law enforcement. Following this, California’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Trump’s deployment, arguing that it exceeds his constitutional authority.
In remarks from the Oval Office on Tuesday concerning the ICE raids and subsequent federal responses, President Trump warned that the current unrest may just be the beginning, stating, “This is the first, perhaps of many.” He further suggested that stronger measures would be taken nationwide against any future protests, claiming that they were met with considerable force before ultimately backing down. He described those protesting as “very dangerous people” that required a robust response.