7 hours agoViolent protests in Washington, Pentagon activates National Guard
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)The military is activating the entire Columbia National District Guard -- 1,100 troops in response to Washington's leader, Muriel Bowser, an army official, says the NY Times. Troops are being sent to D.C. and will be placed in the House of Representatives, at other points around Washington, the official says. [...]
Troops are being sent to D.C. and will be placed in the House of Representatives, at other points around Washington, the official says.
In a statement, Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said the Guard had been mobilised and the response would be directed by the Department of Justice. The decision by Army Secretary Ryan McCarty and Christopher C. Miller, the interim secretary of defence, came until protesters violated the House of Representatives.
Mr. Hoffmann noted that troops were being deployed to “supporting” of federal law enforcement, reflecting the reluctance of defence officials to deploy military troops in the capital. Defence officials want authorities in Washington to use local police and other law enforcement agencies to confront protesters in the DC, with National Guard troops in support, but not at the top, to avoid the spectrum of an army fighting election protests.
