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City of Austin reiterates importance of ‘peaceful and safe assembly' ahead of Saturday protest
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is continuing to reinforce the importance of a 'peaceful and safe assembly' as a scheduled protest in the city is expected to kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Texas Capitol.
This comes after the city held a press conference Thursday to discuss its preparations for planned protests happening over the weekend.
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That conference was held following an anti-ICE protest on Monday, where the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested 13 people. As of Friday, two of those arrested had their charges dropped, according to KXAN's Brianna Hollis.
The protest happening Saturday is organized by Hands Off Central Texas, which is scheduled as part of a national day of action. It is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Furthermore, the city said there 'will be an increased presence of officers to assist with community safety and traffic management on Saturday.'
'The Austin Police Department fully supports and upholds the constitutional right to peacefully assemble and the freedom of the press,' Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said in the release. 'As always, our priority is to ensure the safety of all individuals present, including demonstrators, bystanders and our officers. It is the responsibility of the Austin Police Department to preserve the peace and protect life and property.'
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According to the city, event organizers have said they will make announcements throughout the protest so that everyone in attendance can stay informed, which includes the ending time and important safety reminders. The announcements will have guidance to encourage attendees 'to exit the grounds safely upon the conclusion of the event in an orderly manner.'
The city said 'Capitol grounds will close promptly at 8 p.m.' Those who need to exit the area should plan ahead. Here is the following guidance the city has given to safely exit:
Identify a safe, reliable way to leave the area.
Expect heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic before, during and after the event.
Consider shared transportation, biking, walking, or CapMetro, which will be running additional routes and extended service to accommodate increased demand.
'We also want to reiterate that unlawful or violent behavior initiated by agitators will be addressed accordingly. Anyone engaging in actions that threaten public safety or target members of the community or law enforcement will be held accountable,' the city said.
The city said it is 'committed to working with the community, organizers, and members of the press to ensure a peaceful and safe assembly.'
'I encourage and trust the people of Austin to let their voices be heard peacefully and in the right way. This is Austin. We're passionate and have strong points of view about human rights and protecting our democracy,' Mayor Kirk Watson said in the release. 'We also have a strong tradition of gathering to express our opinions in the capital city of this state. We know how to celebrate our democracy without participating in chaos.'
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