Update on Planned Protests in Texas
Update:
4:49 p.m. June 12, 2025: Updated with information from Jolt Action.
Deployment of Troopers and National Guard
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday morning that he deployed over 2,000 troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and more than 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers across the state ahead of the planned protests on Saturday, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
“Don’t mess with Texas — and don’t mess with Texas law enforcement,” Abbott said in the news release.
Role of DPS Troopers and Texas Rangers
The DPS troopers include special agents and Texas Rangers. They have been deployed to respond to potential criminal or violent activities at the protest in addition to thousands of troopers already stationed throughout the state, according to the news release.
Criticism from Jolt Action
Jolt Action, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Latino civic participation in Texas, released a statement on Wednesday criticizing Abbott’s decision to deploy the Texas National Guard.
Breaking News
The statement said this decision “undermines the constitutional right of free speech and peaceful assembly protected by the First Amendment.”
Related:Texas National Guard on standby for upcoming planned protests
Response from Jolt Action Executive Director
“He is painting this picture that there is a need for control for actual violence or damage to property … and like it’s coming from a safety concern, when in reality this is an attempt to scare and intimidate people from having their voices heard,” said Jackie Bastard, executive director of Jolt Action.
Bastard said the organization is sharing resources on social media and directly to their members before the protests.
“Texas is a diverse state … immigrants make up the backbone of a lot of our population here,” Bastard said. “We want to make sure that their courage fuels the fight for a more just democracy.”
Planned Protests and National Guard Deployment
The Texas National Guard soldiers have been strategically positioned to support the state and local law enforcement response to any criminal activity, according to the news release from Abbott’s office.
The planned No Kings protests are scheduled to take place Saturday across the state in Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Arlington, Fort Worth, Flower Mound and several other locations.
Conclusion
The deployment of troopers and National Guard soldiers ahead of the planned protests in Texas has sparked controversy and criticism from organizations such as Jolt Action. While Gov. Abbott has stated that the deployment is necessary to ensure safety and prevent violence, others argue that it undermines the constitutional right to free speech and peaceful assembly. As the protests approach, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what impact the deployment will have on the demonstrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the planned protests in Texas?
A: The planned No Kings protests are scheduled to take place Saturday across the state, but the exact purpose of the protests is not specified in the provided information.
Q: Why did Gov. Abbott deploy troopers and National Guard soldiers ahead of the protests?
A: According to the news release from the governor’s office, the deployment is intended to respond to potential criminal or violent activities at the protest and to support the state and local law enforcement response to any criminal activity.
Q: What is Jolt Action and why are they criticizing the deployment of the Texas National Guard?
A: Jolt Action is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Latino civic participation in Texas. They are criticizing the deployment of the Texas National Guard because they believe it undermines the constitutional right to free speech and peaceful assembly protected by the First Amendment.
Q: What is the expected impact of the deployment on the protests?
A: The expected impact of the deployment on the protests is not clear, but it has sparked controversy and criticism from organizations such as Jolt Action. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what impact the deployment will have on the demonstrations.
