Detailed list of National Guard in each city affected by riots:
5,000 National Guard troops in 15 states and DC activated to help quell growing civil unrest
As cities across the nation are burning after several days of rage over what prosecutors say was the murder of a handcuffed black man by Minneapolis police, about 5,000 National Guard troops in 15 states and the District of Columbia have been activated to help quell the unrest.
Another 2,000 Guard members are prepared to activate if needed, according to April Cunningham, a National Guard Bureau spokeswoman.
“State and local law enforcement agencies remain responsible for security,” according to a National Guard media release. “The National Guard personnel assigned to these missions are trained, equipped and prepared to assist law enforcement authorities with protecting lives and property of citizens in their state.”
National Guard troops “live in the communities they serve, and are there to protect their neighbor’s right to protest peacefully,” the release states. “Governors have used Guard members many times during response efforts to support local and state law enforcement in a wide range of capacities, to include assisting in upholding the rule of law. While conditions may change the National Guard's ability to respond is constant.”
The National Guard troops are responding under the direction of their governor are traditional part time guardsmen operating under State Active Duty orders with state and local law enforcement as the lead agency, according to Army Master Sgt. Michael Houk, a National Guard Bureau spokesman.
The situation on the ground in Minneapolis & St. Paul has shifted & the response tonight will be different as a result. The coordinated @MNNationalGuard, @MnDPS_MSP, & law enforcement presence will triple in size to address a sophisticated network of urban warfare. #MACCMN
— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) May 30, 2020
National Guard soldiers and airmen have been activated for this situation in Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington state, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Houk told Military Times that the duration of the activations is unknown at this time.
“The National Guard will remain on mission as long as they’re needed,” he said.
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz said he spoke twice with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sharing notes and asking DoD for additional help that includes signals intelligence to help figure out how the protesters are organizing.
MORE: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/05/31/5000-national-guard-troops-in-15-states-and-dc-activated-to-help-quell-growing-civil-unrest/