Steven Accrocco, 22, said he came from Houston to protest what he called communism in America. Daniel Hunter of Waco said he was there to support Texas laws that would expand gun rights. Texas Capitol to close Saturday, before planned armed protests of Joe Biden’s inauguration The FBI had reportedly warned law enforcement agencies in all 50 states of possibly armed protests … RELATED: 'Put Texas back to work!' Jeinay LeBlanc, an armed protester who traveled from Bay City to participate in Sunday's protest, said the rally had been planned for months. "If Jan. 6 hadn't happened, I think we'd see a much bigger crowd out here, but there was a lot of fear going around," Hunter said. State police late arrested a man who "attempted to enter the restricted area." Austin, Texas (CNN)Numerous law enforcement officers stood guard at Texas' Capitol building in Austin and about a dozen demonstrators gathered outside as the legislative session began Tuesday. Texas State Capitol Shuts Down Amid Fears of Armed Protests AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced the temporary closure of the Texas State Capitol and Capitol Grounds "out of an abundance of caution" starting Saturday, January 16 and extending until Wednesday, January 20. He wore a “Make America Great” beanie but said he supports neither Trump nor President-elect Biden. … It was the kind of scene that is common in downtown Austin at the beginning of a legislative session and nothing like the violent protests that authorities feared this weekend at state capitols. Texas Gov. AUSTIN, Texas – On the day the House and Senate met in a joint session to count the electoral votes from the November election, protests erupted in our nation’s capital, and they broke out at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, as well. Protests are scheduled for this weekend at the Texas Capitol, officials said. AUSTIN, TX — A small but vocal group of armed pro-Trump demonstrators began to gather outside the state Capitol on Tuesday — an offshoot of ongoing protests by … State leaders in Texas are also reacting to both the unrest at the U.S. Capitol and to another protest Wednesday at the Texas State Capitol. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may … Governor Greg Abbott released a … The Capitol will be closed to the public through Wednesday, when Joe Biden will take the presidential oath in Washington. AUSTIN, Texas (KWTX) - Police had been bracing for demonstrations and protests at state capitols across the country on Inauguration Day, but in Austin, the scene was quiet. Texas GOP Chairman Allen West, standing outside the Capitol, said he hopes people on both sides of the ideological aisle remain calm. FBI warns 'armed protests' being planned at all 50 state capitols and in Washington DC, rioters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, How key states plan to secure their capitol buildings ahead of possible armed pro-Trump protests, On these 9 days, police in DC arrested more people than they did during the Capitol siege. "Yesterday I put out a piece on the RPT (Republican Party of Texas) website, my chairman's Monday message," West said. Capitol protest tracker: What happened at capitols across the US on Sunday FBI officials are warning of protests at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol in the days leading up to inauguration. Handguns are allowed to be carried concealed or openly in the Capitol with a state-issued license to carry. AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 18: Protesters gather at the Texas State Capital building on April 18, 2020 in Austin, Texas. West said he thinks the demonstrators in Austin would "lead the way" and set an example for protests. However, very little of the rhetoric of the rally was about President Donald Trump and, in fact, some of those in the crowd criticized him. Hunter said he didn't want to be associated with those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The police were at the Capitol in response to promises of unpermitted protests from groups on both the left and right of the political spectrum. pic.twitter.com/JhJWSgJCJZ, Gun rights activists rally at Capitol, but not for election. CNN's Brad Parks, Konstantin Toropin and Dan Simon contributed to this report. CNN's Omar Jimenez reported in Austin and Jason Hanna wrote in Atlanta. Monday, January 11, 2021 AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas capitol grounds reopened on Monday with a visible presence of increased security, after … Austin, Texas (CNN) Numerous law enforcement officers stood guard at Texas' Capitol building in Austin and about a dozen demonstrators gathered … "It said cool hands always prevail, because I've been in combat, and you have to temper emotions, you have to stay focused, you have to stay resolute. "This is not about the election at all," said LeBlanc, who said she's with the Hibiscus Society, a pro-gun rights group. pic.twitter.com/2G9OwEh8Yd, Ben Hawk, of Fort Worth, who spoke against gun control laws, said he wants this protest to be peaceful and said he doesn’t want to be associated with those who stormed the U.S. Capitol. He was held on suspicion of failure to comply with a lawful order, police said. About 100 people, many of them armed and advocating gun rights, gathered peacefully outside the Texas Capitol gates for a few hours Sunday. A heightened law enforcement presence was visible on the Capitol grounds, and some protesters said they had been contacted by the FBI beforehand. LeBlanc said she was concerned that their rally would be co-opted by people who supported those who stormed the Capitol. Some of them have said they don’t support Trump. Before the rally Sunday, LeBlanc said FBI officials spoke with several people with her group. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several groups are expected to gather at the Texas Capitol on Saturday afternoon for the 2021 Texas Rally for Life, to protest the legality of abortion in the United States. Police in Washington state said they made two arrests on the Capitol grounds in Olympia on Monday, the first day of the legislative session. AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 16: A small group of protesters stand outside the Texas state capitol on January 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety closed the Texas Capitol Wednesday afternoon "out of abundance of caution." Its website says the group broke away from the so-called Boogaloo Movement, which the Anti-Defamation League describes as an anti-government extremist movement that advocates for a second civil war. Members of the Texas Department of Public Safety at the Capitol during a protest Jan. 6, 2020 (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) Biden supporters rally at Texas State Capitol amid protests … "The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may … Jacquelyn Martin/AP Show More Show Less 22 of 25 A DPS state trooper stands guard at the Capitol on the first day of the 87th Legislature, Tuesday Jan. 12, 2021 in Austin, Texas. There have been no … The decision was … Armed officers from the … Politics DPS increasing security at Texas State Capitol ahead of planned armed protests DPS shut down the Texas Capitol building on Jan. 6 – the day of … Gun rights activists rally at Capitol, but not for election as protesters gather at Capitols nationwide. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may … “The only way to protest is to pick a side,” Accrocco said. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may … Supporters of President Trump gathered at state capitol … “We’re here to be peaceful, we’re here to support the Second Amendment,” said Hunter, who said he wasn’t with a specific group. “The Texas Department of Public Safety is aware of armed protests planned at the Texas State Capitol this week and violent extremists who may … A similar protest was held outside the Governor's Mansion on Thursday. AUSTIN — Only a handful of supporters of President Trump showed up at a weekly protest Saturday at the Texas Capitol, where law enforcement remained on high alert. AUSTIN, Texas — The first day of Texas’ legislative session drew armed pro-Trump protesters to the state Capitol on Tuesday, ABC affiliate KVUE … The first was of a woman who used an RV to block a roadway and "refused to comply with orders to move,". Brontë Wittpenn, Austin American-Statesman, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Austin, Texas: Protesters began gathering in the morning at the Texas State Capitol, which the state had closed out of concerns over the protest. The protesters overturned a Texas Department of Public Safety vehicle on the Capitol grounds and vandalized another DPS SUV by throwing a rock through a window and bashing the side of the vehicle, according to a tweet by KVUE reporter Bryce Newberry. Outside the Texas Capitol, some demonstrators took turns speaking with a microphone. And people are looking for that that calm, still voice, that leadership voice, and that's what I want to try to be.". Austin's small rally mirrored other protests across the country Sunday. Listen to the Statesman's news podcast: The best local news, 8 minutes a day. FOX 7 Austin AUSTIN, Texas - A planned protest is taking place at the Texas State Capitol Sunday, despite the Capitol and its grounds being closed. Officers stand outside the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, the first day of the state's 2021 legislative session. The Texas DPS was requiring rapid Covid-19 tests of anyone who wanted to enter the building. Protesters march on Texas Capitol demanding the state ‘open now’ The rally comes a day after Gov. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. Officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies stood at multiple entrances to the Capitol, ahead of the noon start of, Austin police told CNN that they "have reports of planned assemblies, and ... are working with our law enforcement partners at DPS to ensure people are able to peacefully assemble and voice opinions and we are able to keep people safe during that process.". As a … He added: “If people want to be violent, if they want to storm the Capitol, then we’re not with them.”, People have begun to show up at the Texas Capitol to rally. No groups were present in significant numbers by Monday afternoon, according to a CNN team there. Protesters gathered around heavily fortified statehouses as law enforcement kept watch to prevent a repeat of the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. At least one person on the grounds had a rifle, which is legal under Texas law. "We condemn the actions of those who breached the (U.S.) Capitol," said Kris Hunter, an armed protester from Waco who said he joined others outside the Texas Capitol on Sunday to support constitutional rights, including gun rights. During a protest that lasted several hours, George Floyd protesters turned violent and began vandalizing property. The Capitol and its grounds will remain closed until Wednesday, officials said in an advisory. Greg Abbott outlined a plan to slowly open up the state’s economy By James Barragán The Texas Department of Public Safety announced the closure of the state Capitol on Friday evening after obtaining new information that "violent extremists" might seek to exploit the armed protests during the weekend. Most of them are talking about gun rights. One, who said he was a founder of a local militia group, spoke against business shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic and praised "patriots that stand up for our constitutional rights.". 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