AUSTIN, Texas \u2013 Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying the state\u2019s National Guard to Austin ahead of planned Saturday protests condemning aggressive immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
The \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests will be taking place across the country to speak out against the Trump administration\u2019s mass deportation push, and the president \u201cthreatening to overtake elections; gutting health care, environmental protections, and education\u201d according to the organizers\u2019 website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Abbott, in a press release, said he\u2019s directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to activate the Texas National Guard because of a \u201cplanned antifa-linked demonstration.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToday, I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas National Guard to deploy all necessary law enforcement officials and resources to ensure the safety of Austin residents,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cTexas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property.\u201d<\/p>\n Antifacism, also called antifa, is a leftist movement opposing far-right, racist and fascist groups. Abbott\u2019s statement didn\u2019t specify the connection between the planned protests and antifa. He also didn\u2019t say whether he planned to deploy the National Guard to other Texas cities where protests are planned, including Houston<\/a>, Lubbock<\/a> and McAllen<\/a>.<\/p>\n The governor\u2019s move comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also claimed earlier this week that the protests are associated with antifascism<\/a>, which Trump has designated as a terrorist organization last month<\/a>, according to The Hill.<\/p>\n Similar protests took place across the state in June<\/a> \u2014 from McAllen to Midland \u2014 and were largely peaceful. Abbott also deployed 5,000 National Guard<\/a> members to those protests to \u201censure peace & order.\u201d<\/p>\n