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The governors of at least 12 states have called up National Guard troops to help quell the protests that have ravaged many major American cities, but Gov. Eric Holcomb so far has been mum on the possibility of doing so in Indiana.
As of Sunday morning, Holcomb’s office had not responded to IBJ’s requests for information about the possibility of calling up troops, even after a night of violence, gunshots and extensive property damage in downtown Indianapolis.
At a press conference late Sunday morning, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said he didn’t see a need to deploy the National Guard in the city. Hogsett did announce that he would impose an 8 p.m. curfew on Sunday night.
The states that have activated the National Guard so far are Minnesota, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, Utah, Washington, California, Tennessee, Missouri and Texas.
Nearly 1,400 people have been arrested across the country, according to an Associated Press tally Saturday. The real tally is probably higher, as the protests, sparked by the death of a black man in police custody last week in Minneapolis, continued through the night.
Armed National Guard soldiers patrolled the streets of Los Angeles early Sunday as the city began cleaning up after a night of violence that saw demonstrators clash repeatedly with officers, torch police vehicles and pillage businesses.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said Saturday he asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom for 500 to 700 members of the Guard to assist the 10,000 Los Angeles Police Department officers.
Garcetti said the Guard members who arrived early Sunday were summoned “to support our local response to maintain peace and safety on the streets of our city.”
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp has authorized up to 3,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to cities across the state to respond if needed. Guard soldiers had helped enforce a 9 p.m. curfew Saturday in Atlanta, where violence has marred otherwise peaceful protests since Friday.
In Washington, the National Guard was deployed outside the White House on Saturday, where chanting crowds taunted law enforcement officers.
Dressed in camouflage and holding shields, the troops stood in a tight line a few yards from the crowd, preventing them from pushing forward. President Donald Trump, who spent much of Saturday in Florida for the SpaceX rocket launch, landed on the lawn in the presidential helicopter at dusk and went inside without speaking to journalists.
Back in Minneapolis, the city where the protests began, police, state troopers and National Guard members moved in soon after an 8 p.m. curfew took effect on Saturday to break up protests, firing tear gas and rubber bullets to clear streets outside a police precinct and elsewhere.
The show of force came after three days when police largely avoided engaging protesters, and after the state poured in more than 4,000 National Guard troops to Minneapolis and said the number would soon rise to nearly 11,000.
“The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd,” said Gov. Tim Walz, who also said local forces had been overmatched the previous day. “It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.”
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The answer to this problem is simple. All American governors need to draft up a work agreement that strips police officers of their qualified immunity and have them agree to not use deadly force unless threatened. And if they do kill, and it is deemed that they were not threatened—they will be immediately fired and charged accordingly. Have all police officers sign the document or be FIRED—and join the 40 million+ unemployed. All big-city American mayors CAN do this NOW. That would make people stop rioting and be lasting change so that this situation never happens again.
We need to shoot more criminals than ever before.
Downtown is being destroyed. If he hasn’t done so already, It’s time for the mayor to request assistance from the governor.
Agreed that the guard should have been out last night. I’ve sent messages to both the governor and the mayor of Indianapolis pleading that the guard be deployed tonight.
Holcomb will issue a statement after he gets up at noon, has his brunch, 2 cups of coffee and completes the Sunday sudoku.
If I were the CEO of these major corporations, I would absolutely refuse to reopen any stores that were burned out or looted. If the government can’t protect property owners who pay taxes, then to hell with them.
Has the Mayor asked for the Indiana National Guard??? That is the key but leave it to the IBJ to try and put it on Governor Holcomb. Like most Democrat lead cities, Indianapolis is wallowing around in their hesitancy and letting all hell break loose. I am sure if MAYOR HOGSETT asks, he shall receive.
No excuse that every officer of IMPD would have to have his or her life in danger because of lawlessness in downtown Indy. The mayor MUST restore order with full military support if necessary. Business that are struggling at best could be forced to permanently close. To see this on live TV Saturday night was one of disbelief.
Thanks for do nothing Gov you could have issued a curfew order last night now downtown Indianapolis looks like a war zone the whole downtown area is boarded up and broken no eating in the streets now thanks to a do nothing gov. In Indiana.
Nonsense. This is Major Hogsett’s mess.
Indianapolis is run by the Mayor and City Council not the Governor. The governor cannot and should not intervene in the City of Indianapolis unless requested by the Mayor, except to protect state property.
Ypu should be ashamed you could have issued a curfew order last night now downtown Indianapolis looks like a war zone the whole downtown area is boarded up and broken no eating in the streets now thanks to a do nothing gov. In Indiana.
Cmon man, it’s the mayors call. Why have a mayor if he can’t or won’t request assistance.
Craig just failed polysci in high school and may not know the difference between a governor and mayor