Law enforcement officials and city leaders responded to the aftermath of a demonstration at the Texas Capitol on Monday evening, where more than a dozen people were arrested following an escalation between protesters and police.
Demonstrators gathered in solidarity with protests opposing immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles. Following a planned march in downtown Austin, the protesters split into multiple groups at various points in the evening, where some were met with pepper spray and tear gas deployed by state and local law enforcement.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed eight arrests made by the Austin Police Department, including two people charged with criminal mischief after leaving graffiti on the exterior of the J.J. Pickle Federal Building. APD deployed pepperballs, projectiles filled with an irritant similar to pepper spray, towards the ground in an effort to disperse the crowd gathered at the intersection of 8th and Trinity streets, Davis confirmed.
“We work cooperatively with DPS all the time,” Davis said. “Of course they’re going to be there to support us and likewise, us to them.”
In a statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the arrest of five people on charges that included felony criminal mischief and resisting arrest. DPS deployed tear gas and pepper ball projectiles to “ensure officer safety and maintain order,” the agency confirmed.
“Texas is a law-and-order state,” Sheridan Nolen, press secretary for the Department of Public Safety, said in an email. “DPS will continue monitoring future events and their impact on public safety across the state, and we stand ready to protect the people and property of the great state of Texas.”
In a joint statement posted to social media on Tuesday, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes and four Austin City councilmembers said the deployment of the US Military to respond to anti-immigration enforcement protests in LA was “an overreach and provocation” meant to escalate tensions between protesters and law enforcement and violence.
“In Austin, we stand united in solidarity with those peacefully protesting ICE and federal aggression while condemning all violence,” the councilmembers said. “As the Trump Administration continues its assault on free speech and dissent, it’s critical to act with intention, stay informed, and look out for one another. In times like these, solidarity is our greatest strength.”
A total of four officers were injured while responding to Monday’s protest, and additional police presence is expected in various parts of the city in anticipation of future demonstrations, the department confirmed.
“APD fully supports the constitutional right to peaceful protest and values civic engagement,” the department wrote in a statement. “However, unlawful actions that place the community or officers at risk will not be tolerated, and these incidents will be addressed.”
