In September 1957 Gov. Orval Faubus of Arkansas called out the National Guard to prevent racial integration of Central High School in Little Rock. President Dwight Eisenhower, who knew something about troops and national power, then federalized the Arkansas National Guard and ordered it to protect the black students who were facing screaming mobs.
In 2025, when a group of protestors took to the streets in Los Angeles to protest ICE raids, President Trump, who knows how to seize media attention and move the story from Elon Musk’s breakup, has decided to federalize the California National Guard. From what I’ve seen, the protests have been mild. The L.A. police could easily handle any potential trouble. But using troops is dramatic. It gets attention. Even I am blogging about it.
I have no doubt that the presence of troops will exacerbate the situation. More hotheads will come out. Shots will be fired. Trump will proclaim the need for more troops. Commander-in-Chief Bonespurs will finally get the military action he’s always wanted, and the Trump-Musk feud will be off the front pages.
It will be interesting to see what he will do on the “No Kings” demonstration day when over 1000 demonstrations are held.
In hindsight, I think Gavin Newsom should have, "No! That's an illegal order. The purpose of the Guard of the is to protect the United States, and the United States is the people! Not the borders, not the flag, but the people!
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