Una huelga estudiantil planeada en Splendora High School generó confusión y fuertes reacciones, con estudiantes encontrando salidas bloqueadas y presencia policial al intentar protestar pacíficamente. La Agencia de Educación de Texas emitió directrices contra las protestas durante el horario escolar, mientras que padres expresaron preocupación por la seguridad y la pérdida de tiempo académico.

A planned student walkout at Splendora High School led to confusion as exits were allegedly blocked, preventing students from leaving to protest peacefully. The Texas Education Agency's new guidance discourages school-time protests, citing safety and funding concerns, while Governor Abbott supports consequences for schools facilitating walkouts.

As student-led protests tied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity continue to spread across Texas and the Houston area, federal officials connected to the ICE Houston Field Office are pushing back against what they describe as an increase in violence and disruptions tied to recent demonstrations.

Some students walked out of schools Friday afternoon to join demonstrations throughout the country condemning the actions of immigration enforcement officials.

Members of Houston's Iranian community gathered in the Galleria area to protest against the Iranian regime, highlighting concerns about a digital blackout preventing contact with family in Iran. The protest aligns with global demonstrations calling for regime change amid reports of thousands of deaths in Iran during government crackdowns on the protests.

Protests across Iran have turned deadly, sparking fear and heartbreak among Iranian Americans with family still in the country. What may appear as breaking news to many is a constant, daily anxiety for those watching events unfold from afar.

Some students and professors say recent changes and scandals chill speech at universities. Others argue that conservative opinions can now be shared more freely.

Conroe City Council has postponed an agenda item on a proposed ordinance that would require a permit for public gatherings of 25 or more people.

The changes are in response to new state laws seeking to limit faculty’s influence and put guardrails on campus demonstrations.

Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.

The 48-year-old man visited a travel center in New Mexico to buy the fireworks, telling store employees he needed fireworks that could be thrown "directly at people to cause harm."

Derek Livingston, who joined Stages last July, brings playwright Maggie Lou Rader’s vision to life in this story about activism and camaraderie set in London, 1888, during the Match Women’s labor movement and the “Jack the Ripper” murders.

“Your commitment to exercising your First Amendment rights with respect, dignity, and unity reflects the very best of our city,” the City of Houston shared in a social media post. “No arrests. No serious injuries. Just one strong, united message — delivered peacefully.“

Demonstrations in McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Austin and elsewhere in Texas have been largely peaceful, as some protests are expected to go well into the night.

The governor also shared a video on social media as he signed a law for law enforcement officials at the protests "to ensure they can use every tool available to combat criminals without being targeted by rogue prosecutors."

A series of "No Kings" protests are scheduled across Houston and Southeast Texas on June 14

Demonstrations against immigration raids began in Los Angeles last week and have spread across the country, including to Texas. More are planned this weekend.

The governor also shared a video on social media as he signed a law for law enforcement officials at the protests "to ensure they can use every tool available to combat criminals without being targeted by rogue prosecutors."

2 Investigates has learned local and federal law enforcement agencies in Houston are closely monitoring developments on the West Coast.

Thirteen people were arrested on various charges during the protest Monday, which ended when officers fired tear gas into a crowd that neared a federal building.

A large protest is being planned in Houston that is expected to counter a military parade for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday this weekend.

As tensions grow between demonstrators and the White House's immigration policies, questions may arise over the president's ability to deploy the National Guard.

The protests in Texas followed days of unrest in Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump sent National Guard troops in response to demonstrations.

Sen. Brandon Creighton says the bill will prevent disruption. Critics say it walks back conservative lawmakers' previous pledge to protect campus free speech.

Students told the Tribune they have deleted social media accounts, socialize less and steer clear of charged topics to avoid becoming targets of immigration authorities.

More than 1,000 people gathered outside Houston City Hall today in a protest organized by nonpartisan advocacy group 5051 Houston.

Over 600,000 people took to the streets in more than 1,200 “Hands Off” protests across the United States on Thursday, with three of those demonstrations held in the Houston area.

Protesters gathered at three different Houston area Tesla locations today, taking part in what they called a “peaceful protest” against decisions and gestures made by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, founder of SpaceX, and current Director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The Fort Bend County Republican Party is expected to gather Tuesday as County Judge KP George's attorneys filed a motion to throw out the indictment against him linked to a social media hoax with his former chief of staff Taral Patel.

Ammer Qaddumi alleges UT-Austin violated his First Amendment rights. He is also challenging his suspension from the university.

The new policy says universities should remain neutral on “issues of the day” while allowing students, faculty and staff to express their ideas.

Some students were relieved they were offered a type of academic probation that would allow them to remain in classes.

Some Jewish students see the protests as inherently antisemitic. Others say Jewish history and values make them empathize with Palestinians.

Protests have been a century-long tradition at UT-Austin, and The Daily Texan, the student newspaper, has faithfully covered and recorded these significant historical events.

Tuesday’s Texas Senate hearing comes as lawmakers are expected to propose new laws next year to enforce the DEI ban and prevent antisemitism.

The lecturer’s lawyer disputes the charges, and the university’s decision to fire him has raised concerns from faculty over free speech protections.

The University of Houston joins other Texas colleges that have cracked down on recent campus protests.

Two studTwo students have been arrested at a protest at the University of Houston.ents have been arrested at a protest at the University of Houston.

Protesting students and staff want to draw attention to public university investments in companies supporting Israel, even if divestment is unlikely in Texas.

Many students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations fear their involvement might affect their plans for after college.

UT-Dallas is the second campus in Texas where Department of Public Safety troopers have made arrests while breaking up protests.

Authorities and protesters clashed during the latest pro-Palestinian demonstration at the university on Monday.

The arrest of dozens of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators since last week has left First Amendment advocates asking who gets to enjoy speech protections in Texas.

Students can generally peacefully protest, regardless of their viewpoint, but colleges and authorities may enforce some restrictions and criminal laws to maintain peace and order.

Administrators are weighing possible disciplinary action against four students who criticized the university’s response to the Middle East conflict.

The University of Texas at Dallas replaced three boulders — known as the Spirit Rocks — with trees, citing “extended political discourse.” Students say the quirky public square is a frequent venue for political messaging.

Iran has begun registering candidates for parliamentary elections in March, which will be the first since nationwide protests rocked the country last year.

With six weeks remaining in the legislative session, advocates implored Texans to join the “resistance” against fast-moving efforts to curb health care, drag queens, education, trans athletes and more.

The chanting was intense and emotions ran high as two groups of protesters showed up outside downtown Houston’s “Hamburger Mary’s” Sunday in a debate over its famous drag show brunch.

Texans on both sides of the abortion debate marched, rallied and chanted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Several demonstrators who participated in the protests in response to George Floyd’s murder were seriously injured when they were struck by police with “less than lethal” beanbag rounds. The officers’ suit says they did not receive training on how to use this type of ammunition.

In this video, see what abortion rights supporters in Texas say about the impact of a likely U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Abbott’s move is the latest in a long clash between Texas Republicans and Austin-area officials over policing — and comes as the push for reform in the Texas capital enters a more complex and uncertain chapter.

Austin officials also agreed to a $10 million settlement with two men who were injured by police with beanbag rounds during the protests.

Officer Ryan Mabry and former officer Melvin Williams face multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and official oppression for their involvement with the protests.

Thousands of people poured into the streets in Cuba on Sunday in what is becoming the largest anti-government protest in decades.

Far-right social media users for weeks openly hinted in widely shared posts that chaos would erupt at the U.S. Capitol while Congress convened to certify the election results. — Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) January 6, 2021These guys are engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police after storming the US Capitol. The Guard was mobilized Wednesday afternoon to support local police following the storming of the Capitol. Members of the National Guard and the Washington D.C. police keep a small group of demonstrators away from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Getty Images)The Defense Department has activated approximately 6,200 members of the National Guard to support the Capitol Police through the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

“What’s taking place here right now is un-American,” Nehls said as the Capitol was being occupied by protesters. “This is a sacred house.”As house members were evacuated to safety, Nehls stayed behind. Through a broken window, Nehls said he tried to negotiate with the protesters, hoping to convince them to stand down. ‘Something close to sedition’: Green talks about Capitol being stormedU.S. Rep Al Green (D-Dist. He said that while he believes in peaceful protests, the chaos that engulfed the Capitol was indicative of an uprising against the government.

District of Columbia National Guard stand outside the Capitol, Wednesday night, Jan. 6, 2021, after a day of rioting protesters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)WASHINGTON – Four people died as supporters of President Donald Trump violently occupied the U.S. Capitol. The woman was shot earlier Wednesday as the mob tried to break through a barricaded door in the Capitol where police were armed on the other side. D.C. police officials also say two pipe bombs were recovered, one outside the Democratic National Committee and one outside the Republican National Committee. Police found a cooler from a vehicle that had a long gun and Molotov cocktail on Capitol grounds.

HOUSTON – As Americans across the nation wait for the highly anticipated 2020 presidential race results, many businesses are in fear of potential protests following the election results. Many businesses in the Galleria, River Oaks and downtown have boarded its buildings Tuesday afternoon. KPRC 2 reached out for comment to a few businesses. Houston businesses aren’t the only ones boarding up. In Austin, several stores on South Congress Avenue, which is down the street from the State Capital, have also boarded up over fears of protests.

The Texas Army National Guard said Monday that up to 1,000 troops could be dispatched to cities across Texas ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Brandon Jones, a spokesperson for the Guard, said the deployment is not related to the election and troops would not be stationed at polling places. The newspaper reported that Guard members could arrive as soon as this weekend. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has not been contacted by either Abbott or the Guard about the deployment, spokesperson Mary Benton told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday. Separately, the FBI’s field office in Dallas warned that far-right extremists could pose a violent threat in North Texas around the election.

Matthew Dolloff, a private security guard working for local television station KUSA TV, was being held for investigation of first degree murder in connection with Saturday afternoon's shooting, Denver police said in a social media post. (Denver Police Department via AP)(AP) – A private security guard working for a local TV station was jailed for investigation of first-degree murder in the deadly shooting of another man during dueling right- and left-wing protests in downtown Denver, police said Sunday. But his son identified the man on Sunday to the Denver Post as Lee Keltner, a 49-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who operated a hat-making business in the Denver area. “It has been the practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests,” the station said. In photos from Saturday's shooting, Dolloff did not appear to be in uniform.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The lone Kentucky detective facing charges related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor pleaded not guilty Monday. The decision not to charge the officers set off protests in Louisville and across the country. On Monday, Louisville's mayor lifted the curfew put in place after people refused to end their nighttime protests. Her response comes after Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott was charged with the felony last week while participating in Louisville protests for racial justice. Many marched along Louisville’s streets chanting “Breonna Taylor, say her name,” and “no justice, no peace."

Greg Abbott issued a string of new legislative proposals to raise penalties and create new crimes for offenses committed at protests. Abbott’s proposals would create felony-level offenses for causing injury or destroying property during what is deemed to be a “riot.” Blocking hospital entrances and using lasers to target police would also be felony offenses, Abbott said. Striking an officer with something like a water bottle would lead to a mandatory minimum of six months in jail. Many protesters in Texas have been arrested on suspicion of such offenses since protests erupted in May after the death of George Floyd. DeSantis' proposal also created new crimes and enhanced penalties like Abbott’s proposal, including a mandatory six months in jail for striking an officer.

Police move after a Louisville Police officer was shot, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in Kentucky. He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. ___This story has been updated to clarify that, according to the investigation, officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant, not that they didn’t use a no-knock warrant.

DALLAS – A Dallas school district is investigating a high school English teacher who asked students to write about a modern-day hero and listed the 17-year-old accused of killing two people during Wisconsin protests as one possible option. Kyle Rittenhouse has been accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding another in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The writing assignment also listed Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the protesters Rittenhouse is accused of killing; along with Mahatma Gandhi, César Chávez, Malcolm X and George Floyd. The Dallas Independent School District did not release the name of the W. T. White High School teacher who assigned the report. In a statement, the district said: “An unapproved assignment posted in Google Classroom yesterday has been brought to our attention.

Neither was a man accused of shooting and killing a demonstrator in Louisville following the death of Breonna Taylor. Demonstrations have slowed, though not necessarily because of the federal charges. Carroll accused federal authorities of using the cases to try to make the protests seem more violent and disruptive than they really were. “There is absolutely an agenda here to blow these out of proportion, make these look more serious or more sinister than it is,” Barnett said of the pursuit of federal charges. “This is the Justice Department, from the top, furthering an agenda that has nothing to do with justice,” he said.

DALLAS U. Rene Hall, the first Black woman to lead the Dallas police force, has submitted her resignation effective Nov. 10, the city announced Tuesday. Hall's resignation letter, which the city provided to The Associated Press, didn't give a reason for stepping down. She wrote that Dallas police have dealt with an unthinkable series of events since she took office in 2017. Hall said shes proud of how the department coped and implemented critical reforms." Halls resignation letter hints that she will continue police work but says shes keeping her next steps confidential.

The McCloskey case drew Trump's attention, especially after Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed felony unlawful use of a weapon charges in July. A police probable cause statement said protesters feared being injured due to Patricia McCloskeys finger being on the trigger, coupled with her excited demeanor." They broke the gate down, Patricia McCloskey said on Fox & Friends." They had weapons, they had fire material.Mark McCloskey said on the Fox News program that Democrat-controlled St. Louis is a very dangerous place, and the statistics back him up. The people of St. Louis expect me to pursue equal justice under the law without fear or favor, and that is what I intend to do.Gardner, St. Louis first Black circuit attorney, was elected in 2016 and appears headed to another term.

(Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo says he supports national policing standards. The legislation is the most expansive effort in recent years to address national policing practices at a federal level. "Most departments have not allowed chokeholds for decades," said Joe Gamaldi, national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents more than 350,000 US law enforcement officers. A key measure in the legislation -- vehemently opposed by a coalition of law enforcement unions -- will shatter the veil of secrecy that a 1976 law provided police personnel and disciplinary records. The New York state legislation will designate the attorney general as an independent prosecutor in cases involving civilian deaths.

In MinneapolisIn Minneapolis, at least seven police officers resigned from the department since protests sparked by Floyd's death in late May flooded the city's streets. More than half a dozen officers are also in the process of leaving, a city spokesperson told CNN. The officers resigned only from the SWAT unit, not from the police department, Hallandale Beach City Manager Greg Chavarria said. The chief told CNN Monday night she was "extremely disappointed" in the officers' decision. A few members of the unit are out currently and are not included in the 57 that resigned, according to the mayors office.

RICHMOND, Va. – Protesters pulled down a century-old statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the former capital of the Confederacy, adding it to the list of Old South monuments removed or damaged around the U.S. in the wake of George Floyd's death. A new state law that goes into effect this summer undoes protections for Confederate monuments and lets local governments decide what to do with them. While it wasn’t clear what would happen to the toppled Davis statue, the mayor indicated it is gone for good. Supporters of Confederate monuments have argued that they are important reminders of history, while opponents contend they glorify those who made war against the U.S. to preserve slavery. Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.

HOUSTON – The Harris County District Attorney dismissed nearly 800 cases against protesters who were arrested during marches against police brutality in the past three weeks. DA Kim Ogg announced that prosecutors dismissed 796 cases after conducting a review that divided the cases into two groups — those who sought to do harm to others and property and those arrested for simple civil disobedience. The cases dismissed were for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, mostly obstructing a highway and trespassing. Only 51 adults and one juvenile now remain charged with active cases, which include 35 misdemeanor charges and 19 felony charges. “The only people I will be prosecuting are those who intentionally hurt others and intentionally destroy property.”

(CNN) -- Republicans and Democrats may be working on separate tracks right now on policing reform, but there is some overlap, in principle, in what is being proposed on both sides of the Capitol. It's a rare sign on Capitol Hill that there could be a breakthrough -- albeit a narrow one -- on policing reform legislation. Things are moving very fast, but there is still a lot of core differences between how Republicans and Democrats see this issue. And, many of them are principles that Republicans and Democrats have been working on together for several years when this issue was not front and center. "Well, we are on a separate track from the White House.

People march and ride horses to protest the death of George Floyd in Houston on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP) (Hennepin County Sheriff)The first of several memorial services for George Floyd was held in Minneapolis. Thousands thronged to the Fountain of Praise church to pay their respects to George Floyd ahead of his funeral Tuesday. June 8: Judge Lina Hidalgo declares June 9 ‘George Perry Floyd, Jr. Day’ in Harris CountyHarris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed a proclamation commemorating Tuesday, June 9 as “George Perry Floyd, Jr. Day” in Harris County. June 9: Houston mayor Sylvester Turner declares June 9 ‘George Perry Floyd, Jr. Day’ in HoustonHouston mayor Sylvester Turner has declared June 9 ‘George Perry Floyd, Jr. Day’ in Houston.

(CNN) -- Last week, Minneapolis officials confirmed they were considering a fairly rare course of action: disbanding the city police department. Minneapolis City Council members haven't specified what or who will replace it if the department disbands. "Back then residents of Camden city absolutely feared the police department and members of the department," he told CNN. Violent crimes have dropped 42% in seven years, according to city crime data provided by the department. Hearing him acknowledge the "rightful pain, anger and frustration" black residents feel about police brutality was powerful, Watson said.

As protests for racial justice continue to spring up across the country, so has the push to support black-owned businesses. And with the swell of support has come a surge of popularity in black-owned business directory apps and new ways to support small black-owned businesses during this time. In the United States alone, there are nearly 2.6 million small black-owned businesses, according to the Census Bureau. Google Docs containing resources and lists of black-owned businesses have also been popular and highly shared across social media platforms. The company says the intent is to make it easier for users to find black-owned businesses on the platform.

Newlyweds Dr. Kerry Anne and Michael Gordon shared their first look on their wedding day with dozens of people demonstrating during a Black Lives Matter protest in Center City, Philadelphia on Saturday. "It was the most overwhelming feeling that I had in my heart," Kerry Anne told CNN. Even though the hotel has closed its doors because of the pandemic, they offered up their courtyard for a small ceremony, Kerry Anne said. Linda McQueen, the couple's wedding photographer, told CNN protestors were chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "Black Love Matters" as they gathered around the couple with their bright colored, handmade signs. Kerry Anne wrote her vows for Michael five months prior to their wedding day and said she had not looked at them since.

Previously, memorial services were held for Floyd in Minneapolis and in Raeford, North CarolinaHere’s everything we know about George Floyd’s Houston memorial and funeral service planned this week. George Floyd’s private funeral service TuesdayWhat time is the funeral service? The private funeral service will be held at The Fountain of Praise church at 13950 Hillcroft Ave in Houston. Only family and invited guests are permitted to attend the private funeral service Tuesday. KPRC 2 will provide a special live stream of his funeral services beginning at 11 a.m.Where will George Floyd be buried?

Health officials have raised concern about coronavirus spread as thousands of people are now braving a pandemic to participate in the national protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. Public health officials have said without the lockdowns that most states put in place, that death toll could have been significantly higher. As those lockdowns were lifted and other measures were loosened, the CDC and other top health officials urged Americans to use face coverings when they go out and always maintain a distance. In Harris County, Texas, health officials said they identified a nursing home with both cases of the virus and deaths. On Friday, health officials in Utah said they were "very concerned" about the rise in new cases over the past week.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota There's good news about the great value of small gestures and the woman helping make life just a little sweeter for so many during these difficult times. In Minneapolis, Rose McGee is on a mission. She and volunteers are baking sweet potato comfort pies and delivering them to neighbors while offering a shoulder to cry on. She and her son loaded her trunk full of pies and headed there. Rose is now encouraging everyone to bake some pies from their kitchen and spread love in their own community.

HOUSTON – George Floyd’s death and in the protests and marches that followed, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo has been making the rounds on national media. “Yeah, we looked into it,” said Houston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi. “What our officers were telling us is that it was people of all races that were throwing water bottles, throwing rocks or throwing bricks,” Gamaldi says. “Frankly we don’t care who the race is of the person throwing a rock at our officers,” Gamaldi said. So without further clarification and no evidence to support his claim, we rate this red on the Channel 2 Trust Index.

AUSTIN, Texas – AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Austin’s police chief said Thursday his department will no longer fire beanbag rounds into crowds after a teenage boy was critically hurt during a weekend protest when he was shot in the head when an officer fired the ammunition that is considered a less-lethal use of force. “We thought he was going to die,” Edwin Ayala said in tears. But Austin City Councilman Gregorio Casar, who was among council members who expressed disappointment in how Austin police responded to protesters, pushed back. He said he had seen a video of Levi Ayala being shot by the beanbag round and that the teen was not in a crowd, but standing alone. A GoFundMe page for the family set up by Edwin Ayala has raised over $140,000 as of Thursday.

It was an alert from the heart of the raging protests in Minneapolis, posted on an online forum by a fellow member of the Boogaloo movement, a loosely knit group of heavily armed, anti-government extremists. Boogaloo members appear to hold conflicting ideological views with some identifying as anarchists and others rejecting formal titles. Gun-toting Boogaloo members also have appeared at George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Atlanta and elsewhere, according to The Washington Post. Known for sporting Hawaiian shirts and arriving to public protests heavily armed, the decentralized Boogaloo movement -- sometimes referred to as the "Boogaloo Bois" -- is often associated with the far-right. On the streets of Minneapolis, Teeter said his group hasn't always been "kitted out" with guns drawn.

HOUSTON Houston police made more than 200 arrests in downtown Houston Tuesday after thousands participated in a peaceful march for Houston native George Floyd. Police said the arrests came after some threw rocks and bottles at officers and engaged in other criminal activity. Our officers have made more than 200 arrests thus far in downtown Houston today/tonight of individuals engaged in criminal conduct, including throwing rocks and bottles at officers. Officers said they are unsure of any significant property damage and will have an updated number of arrests Wednesday morning. Todays #GeorgeFloyd #Houston Protest would not have been possible without the leadership and work of @TRAEABN and @BunBTrillOG.

HOUSTON – Houston police Chief Art Acevedo questioned President Donald Trump’s handling of unrest in America during an interview Monday on CNN. Calling himself a law-and-order president, Trump said Monday that he is an ally of peaceful protesters, but he said governors should deploy the National Guard “in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets." “Please, if you don’t have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut because you’re putting men and women in their early 20s at risk,” Acevedo said. Acevedo, who has himself said that police in Houston will work with protesters to keep things peaceful, said people should not equate kindness with weakness. This is not Hollywood … This is real life and real lives are at risk, and I ask the American people to please join with the police.

HPD Police Chief Art Acevedo said some were provocateurs who came to town to cause violence, but the city won’t say how many they’ve identified or what groups they’re affiliated with. Protest arrests by date (KPRC 2)On Friday night, 137 protestors were arrested. Protest arrests by date (KPRC 2)More than 100 of them for blocking roadwaysProtest arrests by date (KPRC 2)On Saturday night, more arrests, a total of 275. Protest arrests by date (KPRC 2)And all but 30 of them for blocking roadways. “We’re seeing there are people, not people of color coming into this city and other cities to actually start agitating and actively engage in violence,” Acevedo said.

HOUSTON The protests have been loud, they have been emotional, and a very small number of agitators have managed to add chaos and destruction. When we were in the moment, I just seen a police officer standing there by himself, said protester Teaira Johnson. A photograph of the moment was captured Saturday in downtown Houston in the midst of this past weekends protests seeking justice for Houston native George Floyd. The photo shows an unknown officer and Johnson embracing in a moment of solidarity. Johnson said she noticed the officer standing alone near protestors -- paying attention to what she and other demonstrators were saying.

AUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said people who dont live in the state but come here to incite violence during protests will face federal prosecution. While most of the protests have been peaceful, some of them have ended in riots and looting. Officials in Minneapolis, where most of the riots have been located, said one-fifth of people who were arrested there have been from outside the state. It was not immediately clear if anyone arrested during protests in Texas was from outside the state.

That represents approximately the same number of active duty troops deployed in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. As of Monday, nearly half of the US has activated guard members to respond to civil unrest. Additionally, about 45,000 National Guard members are supporting the Covid-19 response across all 50 states, three territories and D.C., bringing the total number of activated National Guard soldiers and airmen to 66,700. President Donald Trump said Monday in the Rose Garden that the United States is taking new measures to quell riots across the United States. This mass activation of the National Guard comes amid a seventh day of protests over the death of Floyd, a black man who died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Greg Abbott said he is not going to ask the U.S. military to come into Texas to respond to violence at protests. Abbott said people have the right to protest the injustice, but the violence and vandalism thats happening at some of the protests are overshadowing Floyds death. He said hes sure that Texas has enough law enforcement and National Guard resources to handle any rioting or looting that may happen. Abbott said there has been no request to send Texas National Guard troops to Washington. Abbott talks about how the state is responding to violence at protests.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis medical examiner has classified George Floyd’s death as a homicide, saying his heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck. The medical examiner’s report also lists heart disease and hypertension as “other significant conditions,” along with fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use. A widely seen citizen video that shows Floyd struggling with a police officer holding his knee on his neck has sparked protests nationwide. Floyd’s family said Monday that its independent autopsy found Floyd died by asphyxiation, and their attorney called for charges against the police officer to be upgraded to first-degree murder.

All rights reserved)You’ve seen photos and videos of the protests across the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s death. There is destruction in some cities, but also powerful moments of reflection, anger and empathy. Please be advised -- graphic language is part of some of these clips. Please watch. Posted by Michael Montes on Sunday, May 31, 2020Bishop Michael Curry: ‘We have to learn how to live together’:

HOUSTON – Some businesses in the Houston area boarded-up windows and doors to prevent damage and looting amid protests over the death of George Floyd. Protests in Houston turned violent on Friday and Saturday with some businesses in both downtown Houston and in the Galleria neighborhood being damaged and looted. It was a similar scene up the street at the River Oaks District shopping center. Some business at The Galleria mall also boarded up after looters broke into a store there on Saturday night. There were no immediate reports of looting or damage Sunday night in Houston, but police could be seen stationed outside the Houston Police Department.

But the state is looking at data from arrests and human intelligence that points to some outside influence seeking to capitalize on the situation and create unrest. Those domestic extremist groups include anarchists, anti-government groups often associated with far-right extremists and white supremacy causes, and far-left extremists who identify with anti-fascist ideology. O'Brien pointed to Chinese social media messages gloating about the chaos. Rubio may have been basing some of his information on analysis from Graphika, a company that helped the committee with its report on Russia's social media influence during the 2016 elections. "Yes, we are seeing very active engagement with the issue from clusters of social accounts in the social media influence networks of Russia, Iran, and China," Kelly said.

(CNN) -- As protesters gathered outside the White House Friday night in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump was briefly taken to the underground bunker for a period of time, according to a White House official and a law enforcement source. Trump has repeatedly praised the Secret Service for its handling of the protests outside the White House Friday night in the wake of George Floyd's death last week in Minneapolis. ET, Friday night outside the White House, had mostly quieted down by 3:30 a.m. The crowd thinned out and Secret Service officers were able to expand their perimeter and barriers around Lafayette Park across from the White House. Six arrests were made during the protests, the Secret Service confirmed in a statement Saturday afternoon.

Government leaders and health officials have expressed their concern that coronavirus could rapidly spread during protests over the death of George Floyd. Sunday alone saw an increase of almost 20,000 cases, according to the CNN count compiled with data from John's Hopkins. Cuomo also noted how the coronavirus has brought long standing health disparities for the African American community to light once again. Protests taking focus off pandemicAtlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also said she's worried about the impact the virus is having on the community during the protests. Other doctors told CNN that the racial disparity in the way coronavirus spreads will only be compounded by the protests.

Here's a closer look at Antifa protesters, who have become more visible in the last several years. The majority of Antifa members don't fall into a stereotype. Since the election of President Trump, however, most new Antifa members are young voters. Levin said Antifa activists feel the need to partake in violence because "they believe that elites are controlling the government and the media. White nationalists and other members of the so-called alt-right have denounced members of Antifa, sometimes calling them the "alt-left."