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Republican governors are flexing their muscles ahead of anti-Trump “No Kings” protests set for this weekend, telling protesters to “think twice” before considering echoing recent strains of violence found in Los Angeles.
The governors of South Carolina, Texas, and Utah have issued warnings against violence ahead of the protests on Saturday. In the wake of California riots and attacks on authorities that broke out in reaction to Trump’s immigration agenda, the Republican leaders said similar acts of violence in their states will be met with a swift response from law enforcement.
Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC) said on Tuesday that he would put South Carolina on an elevated sense of alert “if it’s necessary.” His comments came hours after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement saying his office is aware of potential “coordinated protests and acts of civil disobedience” planned for Saturday, adding that protestors who attack law enforcement, destroy property, or endanger lives will be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”
“If people want to protest and want to voice their opinion, that’s fine. But when you start destroying property, scaring people, hurting people that’s when law enforcement swings into action,” McMaster said. “I would urge people who want to cause trouble in our state to think twice because this is not the place to cause trouble. You will be held accountable.”
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) revealed that the Texas National Guard would be deployed across the Lone Star state to quell possible violence, while Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) also had a message to send protestors: “Just a word of warning to anybody who is thinking about any type of violence or chaos or property damage or vandalism,” he said during a news conference.
“It will not happen here, and you will be held accountable,” Cox said. “We are going to be overprepared.”
