Heavily armed members of rival groups face off at Austin protests
Heavily armed protesters gather to protect Black Lives Matter demonstrators holding rally in Austin
By Andrew Court For Dailymail.com03:44 02 Aug 2020, updated 05:47 02 Aug 2020
Austin police are bracing for chaos as heavily-armed activists from rival groups face off in the city one week after a protester was shot dead.
On Saturday evening, a group of gun-toting men were seen protecting left-wing demonstrators at a makeshift memorial for Garrett Foster - the 28-year-old who was killed during a BLM march in Austin last weekend.
Across the street, camouflage clad members of the far-right paramilitary group Three Percenters stood watching on, brandishing semiautomatic weapons in an intimidating manner.
Members of another far-right group - Boogaloo Boys - were also spotted cutting an imposing figure at the memorial.
Police have bolstered their forces amid fears that tensions between the two groups could explode.
Austin police are bracing for chaos as heavily-armed activists from rival groups face off in the city one week after BLM protester Garrett Foster was shot dead. Members of the far-right Boogaloo Boys were seen creating an intimidating presence at his memorial on Saturday evening
An armed activist who turned out to support BLM protesters is seen in the city just before sundown
Video showing heavily armed protesters from both left and right-wing groups began circulating on social media on Saturday evening. Austin Police are on high alert
Black Lives Matter protester Garrett Foster (left) was shot dead last Saturday night as he marched through the city. His wheelchair-bound fiancee Whitney Mitchell (right) was with him at the time
The Austin Police Department released a statement saying they have called in extra cops to help protect both people and property should things go awry.
'We are bringing in the necessary staff, and have partnered with other local law enforcement agencies as we have done throughout the past few months, to allow for those peacefully and lawfully practicing their first amendment rights while also working to prevent any violence or destruction of property,' a statement from the Department read.
Those paying tribute to Foster linked up with a separate rally to 'amplify Black Austin voices and demand defunding of the Austin Police Department' which moved through the city.
In a video shared to Twitter by , officers on horseback and bicycles were seen controlling crowds shortly before sundown as they moved down the street.
Some protesters started to clash with cops, spooking the horses and causing a commotion.
'F**k you!' several activists were seen yelling at the officers, as those on bikes rode in quickly to assist.
Meanwhile, police issued a warning to locals living in the downtown area to be 'on guard' amid rumors activists could break into high-rise residential buildings and stage rallies from rooftops.
Two police helicopters were reported to be circling over the city at 8pm.
While there was no reports of violence early in the evening, cops and protesters did clash at Foster's memorial site. In a Twitter video, one activist was heard yelling in a megaphone that cops were 'f**king pigs', as some agitators became involved in a scuffle with officers.
After sundown, a wall of police officers with shields were seen forming a protective barrier in the city's downtown.
Armed men in camoflauge - reported to be members of the Boogaloo Boys - stood around Foster's memorial siteOne journalist shared this snap showing a wall of police officers with shields formed a protective barrier in the city's downtown
Austin is on high-alert following the shocking slaying of Foster at the BLM march last Saturday night.
Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, 33, opened fire on Foster after driving into a crowd of demonstrators.
Perry claims he came across the protest by accident while working as a ride share driver, and that he only opened fire in 'self defense' after Foster allegedly waved his AK-47 at him.
A memorial was quickly established in the city complete with flowers, candles and tributes. However, the memorial was damaged by a right-wing activist who claimed Foster was a 'terrorist' who was 'rightfully and legally euthanized'.
The vandalism has further fueled tensions in the city.
On Saturday evening, a group of gun-toting men said they were seen ready to march with and protect BLM protestsThe Austin Police Department released saying they have called in extra cops to help protect both people and property should things go awry. Officers on horseback were seen patrolling crowds before sundown on Saturday
WHAT HAPPENED TO BLM SUPPORTER GARRETT FOSTER?
On Saturday night, July 25, Sergeant Daniel Perry allegedly drove into a crowd of 100 Black Lives Matter protesters marching through the city.
Perry claims he came across the protest by accident while working as a ride share driver, and suddenly felt threatened amid the large crowd.
Garrett Foster - who was marching with his disabled fiancée Whitney Mitchell - was armed with an AK-47.
According to Perry, Foster began waving the weapon in his direction, causing him to pull out his own gun and shoot Foster in self-defense.
Foster, 28, a former US Air Force mechanic, was shot three times and later died in his hospital from injuries.
Garrett Foster (pictured with his fiancée Whitney Mitchell) was shot and killed during a BLM march in Austin last weekendUS Army sergeant Daniel Perry shot and killed Foster. He claims he acted in self-defenseFoster's fiancée Whitney Mitchell is seen center during a memorial march for her late partner, one day after he was shot and killed