Security tightened for Austin’s March for Our Lives event

In response to a recent string of bombings, attempted bombings, and bomb threats, the Austin Police Department is working with rally organizers to increase security for Saturday’s March for Our Lives event.

The upcoming event is one of many planned across the country in a student-led national effort to raise awareness and make substantive changes to change state and federal gun policies.

Austin participants plan to gather on the south side of City Hall (301 West Second Street) at noon and march east on Cesar Chavez Street, turning north on Congress Avenue and continuing to the state Capitol (1100 Congress Avenue) for the rally.

According to a safety update on the Facebook page of the local event, law enforcement agencies are working to increase security for the march and rally. The text of the full post is below.

SAFETY UPDATE:

In wake of the recent tragic events, including the bombings that have done harm to our Austin community, the March For Our Lives team has been in communication with the Austin Police Department to ensure the best strategy to keep all of our marchers safe.

We will march.

The Austin Police Department has informed us that they have heightened security for our event. Just like us, their primary concern is to ensure the safety of our citizens (including our out of town friends who will be honorary Austinites for a day). They are in contact with various state and federal agencies about the situation as well.

We will have deputies present, including one on stage (as stage security) as well as volunteers trained in de-escalation techniques. Both of these security measures have been in place and were planned before the bombings were reported.

Here is the route map for the March, via the March for Our Lives Austin website.