Over the weekend, anti-ICE protests were rampant in major cities across the US, most notably in Los Angeles, where looting, arson, and attacks on police officers were prevalent. Due to the escalating violence and apathetic response by Governor Newsom, President Trump was forced to call the National Guard.
In Texas, similar protests occurred on a smaller scale. In Austin, police had to fire tear gas into the streets to clear them of unruly masked protestors shouting obscenities and vandalizing federal property.
Now, Texas law enforcement is bracing for Saturday’s nationwide “No Kings” protests, which are planned throughout the Lone Star State. Governor Abbot has stated that he will use his authority to deploy the National Guard to major cities in Texas ahead of the planned protests. Mayor Watson of Austin and Mayor Nirenberg of San Antonio both released statements disparaging ICE’s efforts to enforce immigration law, while also discouraging violence and destruction in the cities.
The protests are being organized by a group called Indivisible, who claim on its website: “Under the Trump Administration, ICE is detaining lawful, permanent residents, not for criminal activity, but for their political beliefs.”
When asked for a comment about the protests, which will occur on Flag Day and Trump’s birthday, Trump stated, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. Not a king.”