AUSTIN (KXAN) — A large crowd of people gathered at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday in solidarity with those protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Los Angeles, according to organizers.
A flyer posted to Instagram invited people to “say ‘ICE out of our cities! Stop the deportations!'” at 7 p.m. Monday. The post, from the Austin-area anti-capitalist group Party for Socialism and Liberation, was posted Sunday and called for an “emergency protest.”
Since Friday, thousands have taken to the streets in Los Angeles to protest after ICE agents arrested immigrants at a number of places in the city, as well as the deployment of National Guard troops in response to initial protests, according to the Associated Press.
The protests in Los Angeles have led to President Donald Trump deploying the California National Guard, without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as the U.S. Marines. The last time that U.S. Marines were deployed to police an American city was in 1992 under former President George H.W. Bush — they were also sent to Los Angeles.
March from Texas Capitol to ICE building
Protesters gathered at the south steps of the Texas State Capitol at 7 p.m. The Texas Department of Public Safety said that the grounds would be “cleared and closed” at 8 p.m., hours ahead of the State Preservation Board’s posted hours.
Protest organizers laid out their rules to attendees at the beginning of the action, telling them not to engage with “instigators” or law enforcement. KXAN reporters saw Texas DPS troopers lead an apparent counter-protester away from the crowd.
A unit of mounted DPS troopers arrived about 10 minutes into the protest. Around that time, protest organizers said they intended to march. A later social media post from the Austin Police Department detailed the “planned route” of the march.
One protestor told KXAN that she showed up because of “what was going on in Los Angeles,” and was “very scared and upset about what our President is doing and using his power to turn the military against us.”
“They’re on a hairpin trigger out there, and anything can set it off,” said 67-year-old Lynn Tozser. “I don’t want that to happen.”
When the march began, protesters chanted, “We will not put up with ICE. Say it once, say it twice.” Other chants included, “The people, united, will never be defeated” and “Whose streets? Our streets.”
The march went to the J.J. Pickle Federal Building. KXAN investigators broke the story that ICE uses the building as a holding facility for its detainees.
The march returned to the closed Capitol grounds around 8 p.m.
Protest splits into smaller groups
The large crowd gathered outside the Capitol fence. Law enforcement officers commanded them over megaphones to move to the sidewalks because the road was reopening.
“We are about to open the street, please move to the sidewalk,” was the announcement.
Some of the protesters did not obey and yelled obscenities in response.
Around 8:25 p.m., the crowd split into two groups. One remained at the Capitol, while another returned to the streets. Officers told the group in the streets that they would only get one more warning to leave the streets.
Minutes later, law enforcement pepper-sprayed protesters in the street on 9th and Congress.
The remaining protesters broke into multiple smaller groups. One of these went down Brazos Street from 8th Street. Electric scooters could be seen lying across 8th Street. A law enforcement helicopter could be seen circling the area.
Around 8:51 p.m., Texas DPS deployed tear gas against a group of protesters. Reporters were also caught in the gas. APD confirmed DPS used the gas, as APD was prohibited from using it following protests in 2020.
KXAN City Reporter Grace Reader made a live report on the protest during our 9 p.m. broadcast:
A DPS source said APD worked to disperse an estimated 100 people who were on the Congress Avenue bridge around 9:05 p.m. The bridge was cleared by 9:19 p.m.
DPS arrested at least two people who were near Capitol grounds around 9:13 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, two groups of protesters converged back at the Capitol, where a large DPS force was already in place.
The scooters in the roadway on 8th Street were removed around 9:30 p.m.
Reader provided an additional report around 9:38 p.m. from outside the Capitol grounds:
On San Jacinto St. around 10 p.m., some tipped over objects, construction signs and scooters. The remaining protesters made their way to 6th Street.
More from Reader around 10 p.m.:
KXAN Crime Reporter Brianna Hollis reported live from 9th St. and Congress Ave. around 10:05 p.m.:
APD officers arrived behind the group around 10:13 p.m., armed with pepper ball guns. Around 10:18 p.m., the officers used pepper spray on the surrounded group on 6th St. and Lavaca St. APD officers arrested several people.
More from Reader around that time:
Gas, with a similar taste to what was used earlier in the evening, was also deployed against the group at 6th St. and Lavaca St. SWAT vehicles were also deployed in the area.
The remaining protesters had dispersed around 10:45 p.m.
Federal building vandalized
The J.J. Pickle Building, where ICE holds its detainees, was vandalized at some point during the action. Pink paintball impacts and writing in marker could be seen.
“ICE NEEDS 2 SURRENDER & RELEASE THE HOSTAGES,” read one of the messages. Another read, “MODERN DAY SLAVERY DISGUISED AS CRIMINAL REFORM.”
A glass door appeared as though an object was thrown through it.
‘More than a dozen’ arrested, Texas Gov. says
Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on social media at 12:10 a.m. Tuesday that “more than a dozen protesters” were arrested Monday.
“Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested,” he said.
Abbott ended the post with “FAFO,” an acronym for “F— Around and Find Out.”
Community activist group Bat City Jail Support called for supporters to stand outside the Travis County Jail early Tuesday morning in support of arrestees. It said that the group did not require bail fund donations.
KXAN has not yet confirmed the exact number of arrests made follow the Monday night march.
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