Ahead of the No Kings Protest on Saturday, taking place in several US cities, Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be sending 5,000 National Guard troops throughout the state to quell any violence. These troops will accompany 2,000 “DPS troopers, including Special Agents and Texas Rangers,” according to Abbott.
Some of the cities in which protests will be taking place are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. Governor Abbott warned the protesters against violent demonstrations, alluding to the ICE protests in Los Angeles that have prompted controversy between California and the US government for how both sides are addressing the protests.
“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,” the governor said. “Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
No Kings is a protest directed at President Trump, taking place purposely on US Flag Day. According to The American Statesman, these protests “demonstrations are organized by Indivisible, a nonprofit coalition of progressive political action groups, which states that it is organizing “to reject corrupt, authoritarian politics.”
The No Kings website states its purpose:
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.”
“We’re not gathering to feed his [President Trump’s] ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind. The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it. On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings,” the website says.
No Kings claims to be committed to nonviolent action. When asked about the protests, Trump refuted the name of the protesters and their attachment to him.
“I don’t feel like a king; I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
