Posted by Reporter Jun 11, But National Guard troops are typically deployed, for a variety of emergencies and natural disasters, with the permission of governors in responding states. Some previous National Guard deployments have restored peace after violent crackdowns from local law enforcement or vigilante violence, but sometimes troops have intensified tensions in communities and with people who were protesting for civil rights or racial equality.
On rare occasion, presidents have invoked an 18th-century wartime law called the Insurrection Act, which is the main legal mechanism that a president can use to activate the military or National Guard during times of rebellion or unrest. Other times they have relied on a similar federal law that allows the president to federalize National Guard troops under certain circumstances, which is what Trump did on June 7.
Still, some experts told The Associated Press that the current standoff in Los Angeles is not comparable, from a legal perspective, to past situations. Here is a look at some of the most notable deployments:. Almost five years ago, Newsom deployed approximately 8, National Guard troops to quell protests over racial injustice inspired by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Well over half the troops deployed in California were sent to Los Angeles County, where police arrested more than 3, people. Yale historian Elizabeth Hinton, who wrote a book about race-related uprisings and police violence, said the protests were characterized as violent but for the most part were not.
That is even truer today, she said. In just six days the protests became one of the deadliest race riots in American history, with 63 people dying, nine of whom were killed by police.
