Gov. Abbott deployed Texas National Guard soldiers to SA in advance of the demonstrations. City officials urged participants to remain peaceful.
SAN ANTONIO — A crowd of about 200 protesters gathered outside San Antonio City Hall on Wednesday evening to speak against federal policies and this month’s nationwide immigration crackdown, eventually marching out around 7:15 p.m.
They protest, one of at least two planned in downtown this week, was expected to make its way to the Alamo.
The demonstration follows a similar march on Sunday that remained peaceful. Participants have largely spoked out against ICE detainment tactics and the policies of the Trump administration, which recently set a goal of 3,000 immigration-related arrests a day.
One protester wore a shirt reading, “No one is illegal on stolen land.” Others held Mexican flags and carried signs reading “We the people say enough is enough” and “Keep ICE out of our community.”
“This isn’t just about me, this is about future generations,” said one woman who said she was a mother of three. “I identify as a humanitarian. The fact you’re stripping away peoples’ rights, whether it’s due process (or something else), is absolutely wrong.”
“The United States is in distress,” she added.
Protesters are unfolding as Texas National Guard soldiers remain on standby in San Antonio in case things turn unruly. Governor Greg Abbott’s office confirmed the deployment Tuesday night, saying, “Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles.”
Since last Friday, anti-ICE demonstrations involving thousands in LA have grown increasingly tense, resulting in police using tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. On Tuesday, nearly 200 arrests were made, including 67 taken into custody for unlawfully occupying part of the freeway.
This is a developing story.