Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday he will deploy and stage the Virginia National Guard ahead of weekend protests planned across the state as part of a national movement demonstrating against the Trump administration.

“We have already asked the Guard to be engaged,” Youngkin said, speaking after an event in Virginia Beach. “They’re integrated into our state police. We have local police, state police and Virginia National Guard that will be on duty over the weekend to make sure Virginians are safe.”

The governor did not identify localities where the Guard will be staged ahead of Saturday’s protests.

More than 2,000 protests are planned in cities across the country this weekend as part of the “No Kings” movement to push back against Trump administration policies. The protests coincide with a large-scale military parade Saturday in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary — which coincides with President Donald Trump’s birthday.

Protests are planned in five Hampton Roads locations Saturday, and thousands of people are collectively expected to attend.

“There are a lot of planned demonstrations this weekend,” Youngkin said at the Virginia Beach event. “I swore that I would protect the Constitution and we’re going to protect the constitutional right for people to gather and demonstrate. But let’s be really clear: There will be no violence. There will be no looting. There will be no damage to personal or business property. We cannot allow people to put people’s lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines.”

“If you break the law, you’re going to be arrested.”

Youngkin this week said he “fully supports” Trump’s recent moves to send troops to Los Angeles, according to reporting from WTVR-TV in Richmond . The president deployed Marines and National Guard to the city after protests began against recent raids and detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

“We can’t have cars being burned overnight and people rioting in the streets, tearing down not just business infrastructure and people’s personal property, but threatening federal facilities as well,” Youngkin said Tuesday. “He said during his campaign that he was not going to allow our cities to be destroyed, and I think this is an appropriate step.”

Members of the National Guard have been deployed in Texas and California . In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed the Texas National Guard to San Antonio in anticipation of protests against ICE.

The planned “No Kings” demonstrations are not a direct response to the weekend’s immigration enforcement action, rather a broader pushback against what organizers call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. In Hampton Roads, local organizers say they will adhere to peaceful protesting. Organizers have taken de-escalation seminars ahead of protests, and many locations are working with local law enforcement for planning purposes.

In Chesapeake and Norfolk, where demonstrations are planned Saturday, police would not say whether the National Guard will be present.

A spokesperson from the Norfolk Police Department said local police will be monitoring the rally and march.

“Our investigators regularly communicate with event organizers to ensure their First Amendment rights are upheld and protected during their demonstrations,” said Noel Lipieko, public information officer. “As always, Norfolk police will monitor these protests for the safety of the demonstrators and will be on hand to assist with any safety concerns that may arise during this weekend’s planned events.”

In Chesapeake, demonstrators are expected to gather at a busy intersection. A Chesapeake Police Department spokesperson said officers would facilitate traffic as needed and noted that the permit for the event specifically prohibits blocking or impeding traffic.