But there’s been a distinct difference in tone between each party’s governors ahead of the day’s protests, organized in nearly 2,000 locations across the country, from city blocks and small towns to courthouse steps and community parks.
Republican governors in Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri are mobilizing National Guard troops to help law enforcement manage demonstrations. There will be “zero tolerance” for violence, destruction or disrupting traffic, and “if you violate the law, you’re going to be arrested,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, told reporters Friday.
Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, also called for peaceful protests — to ensure Trump doesn’t send in the military. “Donald Trump wants to be able to say that we cannot handle our own public safety in Washington state,” Ferguson said.
In California, where state troopers were put on “tactical alert,” cancelling any days off for all officers, Gov. Gavin Newsom also warned protesters not to give Trump any justification for more military deployments.