Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the deployment of over 7,000 National Guard and Department of Public Safety troops in preparation for planned demonstrations this weekend.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Abbott had already stated that lawlessness caused by demonstrations would not be allowed in Texas, and plans were in place to deploy National Guard troops to manage the disruptions.
The governor has confirmed the total number of troops deployed across the state, with 2,000 TxDPS soldiers and 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers deployed to help control the protests.
The Office of the Governor wrote in a news release that the DPS soldiers are meant to “respond to potential criminal or violent activity at these protests and to maintain law and order across Texas.”
These troops will include Special Agents and Texas Rangers, in addition to the DPS troops already stationed throughout the state.
Meanwhile, the deployed National Guards troops will be “strategically positioned to bolster state and local law enforcement response to any criminal activity.”
Abbott wrote in this news release that “peaceful protests” are the right of every citizen in the country, but these troops are meant to help keep them peaceful after similar events turn violent.
“Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles in response to President Donald Trump’s enforcement of immigration law,” he added.
“Today, I deployed over 2,000 Texas DPS troopers and over 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers across the state to assist local law enforcement response to these protests and to maintain law and order. Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law. Don’t mess with Texas — and don’t mess with Texas law enforcement.”
The deployment of these troops comes just shortly after the “protests” in Los Angeles turned violent, with the Los Angeles Police Department stating that 50 people were arrested over the weekend and officers fired 600 non-lethal rounds.
Multiple demonstrations have been planned throughout the Lone Star State in the coming days. Left-wing activists are planning “protests” on June 14, dubbed “No Kings Day,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.