The Army National Guard said ahead of the November 3 election that it will send up to 1,000 troops to cities across Texas.
Army National Guard Deployment is Related to Peacekeeping Efforts
The deployment has nothing to do with the election. Therefore, the troops would be at polling places. Brandon Jones, a spokesperson for the guard, also said it was part of the peacekeeping efforts. In fact, those began during anti-police brutality protests this summer.
Texas Military Department Provides Additional Support
In the summer of 2020, the Texas Military Department provided additional support to the Department of Public Safety, Major General Tracy R. Norris, the adjutant general of Texas, said in a statement. Therefore, guarding historical landmarks such as the Alamo and the State Capitol, Texas Service Members continues to support [the Texas Department of Public Safety] in this capacity.
Army National Guard Troops Sent to Five Major Texas Cities
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the troops will go to five major cities. The cities included Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. The San Antonio Express-News reports that Guard members may arrive this weekend.
In fact, the National Guard in late May activated by Governor Greg Abbott. Moreover, this was after a series of demonstrations took place across Texas in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Police Provided Assistance at the Burial Service of George Floyd
The police asked other agencies for assistance in what they thought might be huge gatherings with protesters and counter-protestors. In fact, this occurred during a burial service for George Floyd this summer near Houston. U.S. Customs and Border Protection planned an enormous presence. It included 66 paramilitary agents from CBP’s Border Patrol Tactical Unit.
Multiple requests for comments were sought at Abbott’s office and they did not respond. Hopefully they’ll get back to the people soon!
