Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder accused Abbott of doing a “crappy job.”[ing] all the way to Donald Trump,” saying, “We don’t need an unnecessary show of force at taxpayer expense during a peaceful protest.” Texas House Minority Leader Gene Woo said Abbott's plan to send “armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do.”
In response to (and in sharp contrast to) the governor's statement, Sofia Mirto, one of the organizers of the No Kings movement, said local news publication: “We hope that any other law enforcement agencies brought in by the Governor will enjoy our event, live music from local Austin artists and hard-working Americans coming together in solidarity, celebration and the inauguration of over 50 organizations working together to make Texas a better place to live.
“We are disappointed that the Governor has chosen to spend Texans' tax dollars to allocate additional resources to ensure a non-violent event consistent with the First Amendment,” Mirto continued, “when so many Texans need housing, transportation, healthcare, quality education, and there are still victims of the devastating 4th of July flood right here in Central Texas who need the Governor signed a decree on providing assistance.”
