AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resumed Monday evening at the Texas State Capitol after a Venezuelan national was shot and injured by an ICE agent in Austin over the weekend.
Wilber Garces Perez, 28, was shot in the torso at a North Austin intersection Sunday afternoon. About 100 people gathered at the front gates of the Capitol on Monday to condemn the shooting and ICE operations in the city.
“I find it vile that, we’re attacking people in our country. Regardless of whether they’re here legally,” demonstrator Lucille Gonzalez said.
Demonstrator Joanna Champaigne said the shooting and what followed left her shaken.
“When I saw that they had the handcuffs on him and he’d been shot, and they released him with a bullet in his body, it just really was horrifying to me,” she said. “We’re fighting and trying to support our community, and we want our neighbors to know that they have support here, that people care about them,” she said.
The Monday demonstration stayed peaceful as a heavy law enforcement presence monitored the area.
At a press conference earlier Monday, Austin-area Congressman Lloyd Doggett encouraged people to continue protesting against ICE, but to do so peacefully.
“Any protest that is about throwing rocks and venting anger does not help us. It only helps Trump and those who are running ICE,” he said. “So we need protests that are bringing folks to our side. I hope you will continue to speak out, and I hope you will carry the protest to the polls.”
Austin police reported multiple officers suffered minor injuries during Sunday night’s protests after demonstrators threw rocks, concrete and water bottles at them. Demonstrators also blocked off the intersection of Research Boulevard and Anderson Square for hours after the shooting.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Austin police fired pepper balls into the crowd and arrested multiple people after repeatedly ordering them to leave the area.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the department respects the right to peacefully assemble, but said public safety comes first.
“But be clear, acts of violence toward our officers or others will result in an arrest. We will protect those exercising their rights, our officers, and the broader community,” Davis said.
The protest at the Capitol ended a few minutes after 9:00 p.m.