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Austin mayor supports peaceful protest, urges against violence amid demonstrations
Summary
Mayor Kirk Watson said he supports peaceful protest and the right to assemble but warned against destructive actions and harming officers, calling certain actions a "tool of the chaos."
Mayor Kirk Watson addressed recent demonstrations and protests during a press event, saying he supports peaceful assembly and urging residents not to engage in destructive actions that harm the community.
"I support their ability to assemble peacefully. I support their right to speak out against things that they ... disagree with," Watson said, while also saying destructive actions or attempts to hurt police officers are wrong. "Don't become a tool of the chaos. Don't become a tool of the fear," he added.
A questioner during the event referenced protests the night before, saying four officers were injured and troopers deployed tear gas. The mayor acknowledged the situation and emphasized protecting community members and de-escalation, saying some coverage aims to "create fear" or "manufactured chaos." He said he would not "play into the politics of fear" and that peaceful protest is acceptable but destructive acts undermine the protesters' aims and the safety of the city.
Watson framed his comments as recognition of the "value and the humanity of our immigrant community" and said he would work to reduce fear and protect residents. He said he supports people expressing their views but urged them not to harm others or damage the city.
The mayor did not provide operational details or independent confirmation about injuries or the deployment of crowd-control measures; those details were raised by a questioner and discussed in the Q&A portion of the event.
