Greg Abbott announced Thursday morning he would deploy over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops across the state in anticipation of protests against federal deportation raids. Abbott initially confirmed the deployment Tuesday night,

The massive deployment represents more than 20% of the state’s military forces and roughly half of the Texas Department of Public Safety commissioned officers.

Over 2,000 troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and over 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers have been deployed across the state ahead of

Abbott's comment—an acronym for "F–k Around Find Out"—came hours after hundreds of protestors began marching Monday night, from the Capitol to the J.J. Pickle Federal Building, chanting "no justice, no peace" and waving signs lambasting ICE. The demonstrations ended with police using tear gas to disperse those gathered.

In response to the protests in his state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has announced that he intends to deploy the National Guard across the state to “ensure peace and order” ahead of further planned demonstrations against the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.

It's expressive conduct, like wearing clothes, or [how] some peoples' religion requires them to wear head or face coverings," said TCU media law p

Saturday's No Kings protest is expected to draw thousands of people, said Kristi Pham of organizer 50501 Houston, which is calling for the event to remain peaceful, as they have in the past. Organizers also are collecting nonperishable food donations for several local food banks.

State Rep. Gene Wu will sponsor the protest because any event held on Capitol grounds needs a sponsor who is an elected Texas official.