The nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization is warning against “reckless behavior” at protests as demonstrations against President Trump’s immigration policies spread across the country and National Guard troops are mobilized in multiple states.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on Thursday issued a “National Safety Advisory” following Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) announcement that 5,000 National Guard troops and 2,000 Texas state police officers would back up local law enforcement ahead of mass protests planned this weekend.
LULAC President Roman Palomares said his organization “stands for lawful, nonviolent protest” and the group advised those who might participate in protests to avoid carrying objects that could be viewed as weapons and to follow “lawful dispersal orders.”
“Anyone joining a demonstration must understand that an act even perceived as assaulting National Guard soldiers or federal agents is a federal crime that can carry serious prison sentences. We should avoid reckless behavior that overshadows our just cause or endangers our people,” Palomares said.
The group previously voiced support for those protesting the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Los Angeles while condemning President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard members to the city. According to a press release, Palomares traveled to LA and joined local leaders from the group to protest federal immigrations operations.
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has sparked recent protests throughout the U.S., and more protests are expected in cities across the country.
On Thursday morning, President Trump said California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) should be thanking him for sending the National Guard and Marines to respond to demonstrations in Los Angeles over the president’s immigration policies.
Trump suggested that the situation in the Southern California city had gotten better, holding up the assistance of the 700 Marines and thousands of National Guard troops he had sent there over the objections of state leaders.
“Los Angeles was safe and sound for the last two nights. Our great National Guard, with a little help from the Marines, put the L.A. Police in a position to effectively do their job. They all worked well together, but without the Military, Los Angeles would be a crime scene like we haven’t seen in years,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Abbott announced the surge of National Guard and Texas public safety officers on Thursday morning, saying in a statement: “Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles in response to [Trump’s] enforcement of immigration law.”