San Antonio leaders expressed gratitude for peaceful anti-Trump protests amid a surprise National Guard deployment.
SAN ANTONIO — This week’s caution gave way to thankfulness Saturday night on the part of San Antonio leaders who had urged the public to remain peaceful during anti-Trump protests, particularly with the sudden news this week that Gov. Greg Abbott was deploying an unknown number of National Guard soldiers to the city.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he didn’t receive “any advance warning” about the decision from Abbott’s office, which warned “anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law.” In light of the deployment news, Nirenberg took to social media Tuesday evening and urged demonstrators “to keep it peaceful and lawful.”
Come Saturday night, his message was one of gratitude after the community followed through. Saturday’s local “No Kings” protest was attended by a crowd likely numbering in the thousands who gathered, marched and made their voices heard without things turning dangerous.
“Thank you, San Antonio, for peacefully assembling to demonstrate your righteous frustration with a federal administration that continues to ignore the fact that his nation is a democracy,” Nirenberg said in a post on X. “We showed the very best of our community today.”
The area’s top law enforcement officials followed suit.
Police Chief William McManus, who on Wednesday morning emphasized his officers would stand guard at Saturday’s protest and were “prepared if something goes south,” thanked the “thousands of demonstrators and organizers for showing everyone how it should be done.”
And Sheriff Javier Salazar, who also urged peaceful demonstration this week, said in a statement that the city’s recent protests stood as proof that the community knew how to exercise its free speech rights the correct way.
“I’m proud of those who took part in today’s demonstration, carrying themselves with purpose and genuine respect for our city and one another,” Salazar wrote. “Additionally, I’m equally proud of the first responders who helped keep everyone safe and maintained a peaceful environment.”
Local leaders of 50501, the national organization that planned the series of “No Kings” demonstrations, said they had coordinated with San Antonio police to keep things safe.
Saturday’s march at times had the atmosphere of a celebration as participants shared messages of resistance and opposition to the federal government’s policies, particularly when it comes to recent immigration crackdowns. And while Wednesday’s protest starting at City Hall wasn’t as deeply organized, demonstrators largely shared their sentiments over the course of a few hours and then departed from downtown, save for a small group that gathered outside the Alamo where a few apparent agitators were separated but not taken into custody.
The trio of statements – all shared within roughly an hour of each hour – collectively represented a sigh of relief on the part of local leaders amid the uncertainty that simmered with the National Guard’s arrival. Those soldiers were mostly seen near the Alamo Plaza during Wednesday’s and Saturday’s protests, but were never observed by KENS 5 journalists to be actively involved in close proximity with demonstrators.
Bexar County Democrats had called Abbott’s deployment of the soldiers “not only unnecessary, but dangerous.” President Donald Trump last week activated 4,000 National Guard soldiers in response to protests in Los Angeles, doing so without being requested by California state leaders and hearing their criticism in the process.