Pro-Trump Demonstrators Gather Outside Texas Capitol

AUSTIN, TX — As thousands of pro-Trump protesters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in the nation's capital Wednesday to show collective displeasure over the presidential election outcome, a smaller — and decidedly more peaceful — demonstration was taking place at the Texas Capitol building among demonstrators airing the same disenchantment.

As part of a Facebook-promoted event titled, "Occupy The Capitol for Trump - Austin," dozens of people descended on the south steps of the Capitol and along the expansive grounds of the political hub. The local event began at noon after participants were urged to arrive as early as 7 a.m. Despite the peaceful nature of the local demonstration, some of those protesting carried firearms openly in a state allowing for such open display of weapons.

Nevertheless, unlike the chaos that broke out in Washington, D.C., the local protest in the Texas capital was peaceful by contrast. "The crowd has been calm and peaceful," a police spokesperson wrote to Patch in response to an email seeking comment. "We are not assisting at the moment. We are available if needed. The crowd is starting to dissipate as well," she added by early afternoon.

The police spokesperson said Texas Department of Safety troops — some reportedly outfitted in tactical gear — had taken the lead in safeguarding the Capitol premises.

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Still, the gathering prompted the closing of the Texas State Capitol as a safety precaution after the structure was reopened to the public on Monday following a 10-month closure prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The closing ensured the practice of physical distancing in a historic structure perennially luring tourists and natives alike.

A Twitter user going by the name of Gavin and describing himself as a Texas Legislature aide took video of the pro-Trump crowds gathered outside the state Capitol. Video used with permission.

In a prepared statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the Capitol was closed again "...out of an abundance of caution." While the agency declined to discuss operational details, it said “DPS will continue to adjust our operations as needed to maintain public order and address potential threats."

As something of a preemptive strike deterring local violence, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged for peaceful protests: "I call on protesters in our state and our nation’s capital to practice their constitutional right in a peaceful manner," Paxton wrote in a prepared statement. "I stand for election integrity and the democratic process. I will not tolerate violence and civil disorder."

But not everyone praised Paxton's efforts to mitigate violent outbursts by protesters. In a prepared statement, Texas Democrats reminded the attorney general helped gin up the Washington, D.C. crowd with his own speech to the throngs there. Just hours before Congress was slated to certify President-elect Joe Biden's election victory, Paxton lauded his own efforts to overturn election results via an ultimately failed lawsuit that sought to throw out votes in a handful of swing states in Trump's favor.

“One of the great things about the State of Texas is, we did not quit,” Paxton told a crowd gathered outside the White House, as the Houston Chronicle reported. “If you look at Georgia, they capitulated, they consented. We kept fighting in Texas.”

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Paxton's case, saying he had not legal standing to dictate the voting procedures performed at other states. “They should’ve heard our case,” Paxton told the D.C. crowd in a speech lasting just over one minute.

Texas Democrats also noted that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas led the efforts to call the election results into question, turning the traditional votes certification ceremony into political theater.

"Cruz and Paxton are part of a long line of Texas Republicans who refuse to accept the election results and are fighting tooth and nail to disenfranchise 81 million American voters," Texas Democrats wrote in a prepared statement. "Today, several House Texas Republicans joined Cruz in objecting to the results. The consequences of Cruz’s actions are severe, with the Capitol building stormed by right-wing terrorists and Cruz and Paxton supporters attacking police officers."

Texas Democratic Party Communications Director Abhi Rahman also condemned the two Texas politicians' actions: “Instead of fighting for $2,000 checks for Texans in need, Ted Cruz, Ken Paxton, and Texas House Republicans are attempting to overthrow the will of the people to score points with their violent base. Now, Washington, D.C. is in chaos and a violent minority are emboldened to act out as violently and dangerously as possible."

The actions of Cruz and Paxton, Rahman suggested, were tantamount to ingratiating themselves with the political fringe: “What’s happening across our country is disgusting. Texans are sick of this nonsense. In Texas, we know a straight shooter when we see one. We know that Ted Cruz and Ken Paxton both know that Joe Biden won this election, yet they are deciding to score points with their violent base in a cynical attempt to garner extremist, right-wing support. A reminder for all Texans: Indicted Ken Paxton and the Coward Ted Cruz are up for reelection in 2022 and 2024 respectively. The work to defeat both of them starts now. Our republic, our ability to improve the lives of Texans, and our very safety depends on it.”

The local demonstration was a decidedly more peaceful gathering than the fountainhead event in Washington, D.C. Local participants were invited to participate if unable to attend the main event in the nation's capital: "If you aren’t able to make the trip to Washington, D.C., please join us as we gather on the steps of the Capitol building in Austin," the event description read. "Trump has asked for all Patriots to show up in support of fair elections so let’s do it!!!"

Such urging from the outgoing U.S. president is being blamed for the chaotic scene in the nation's capital, where members of Congress were forced to evacuate as a horde of demonstrators overtook the building for the "March For Trump" rally.

The traditionally ceremonial — and decidedly staid — activity of certifying votes from the presidential election in November prompted the protests after Trump urged his Vice President, Mike Pence, to reject the victory by Joe Biden and instead send the results back to the states. Pence, who presides over the joint session during which vote were to be certified, acknowledged his lack of Constitutional authority to do what Trump asked.

Protesters in D.C. were energized by Trump in a speech prior to the protests, falsely telling them that "...this election was stolen from you, from me, from the country" while erroneously adding he had actually won "in a landslide." Defiant, Trump told the crowd that today "...is not the end, it's just the beginning" while adding that he "will never give up, we will never concede."

Yet no evidence of electoral fraud was found in subsequent examinations, and some 60 courts have since rejected anemic claims of chicanery by Trump's attorneys.

Witnessing the violent protesters spurred by his own words, Trump later tweeted a message to supporters seeking to mitigate the chaos he inspired. "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful," he wrote in a tweet issued just before 2:15 p.m. "No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

As his followers' protests turned increasingly violent, Trump later urged his supporters to "go home," but still defiantly repeating false claims of fraud while calling his political enemies as "bad" and "evil" people.

This is Trump's full minute-long video statement: "I know your pain, I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it — especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace; we have to have law and order; we have to respect our great people in law and order. We don't want anybody hurt. It's a very tough period of time. There's never been a time like this where such as thing happens where they can take it away from all of us — from me, from you, from our country. This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens — you see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home, and go home in peace."