Republican executives in several US regions have assigned National Guard units on standby preparing for massive demonstrations opposing Donald Trump and his initiatives.
Protest Size and Organization
Planners of the "No Kings" campaign declared that events are arranged at over 2,500 sites around the country.
Based on rally coordinators, the last Anti-Authoritarian gathering in June drew exceeding five million attendees protesting Trump's governmental approach.
Regional Measures
Governors in Texas and Virginia have publicly activated their state's National Guard units, though the level of defense presence remains uncertain.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott cited the "planned far-left associated demonstration" as justification for mobilizing local troops.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin similarly authorized mobilization of the regional National Guard units.
Political Reactions
Protest leaders portrayed the events as opposition to Trump's "autocratic tendencies."
"The president considers his authority is absolute," they state on their online platform.
"But in this country, we don't have monarchs and we will not retreat against chaos, corruption, and cruelty."
Some Republicans have dubbed the protests as "Anti-American" events.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall allegedly remarked before the demonstrations: "We'll have to call out the National Guard."
"Hopefully it'll be peaceful. I'm skeptical," he added.
Opposition Reaction
Liberal representatives criticized the mobilization of military troops.
Texas Democrat Gene Wu asserted: "Dispatching armed military personnel to control non-violent protests is what dictators and tyrants do — and Greg Abbott just demonstrated he's among them."
