National Guard members may be armed in accordance with their mission and training, Sergeant Craig Clapper, a spokesperson for the National Guard deployed to Washington D.C., told NPR on 17/8.
Sergeant Clapper’s statement contradicted the U.S. Army’s 14/8 announcement that National Guard troops patrolling public areas in Washington would not carry weapons but would wear standard body armor. Their weapons would be stored and issued only "in necessary situations."
Clapper emphasized that the main objective of the National Guard deployed to Washington is to support civil authorities and ensure public safety.
The D.C. National Guard remains committed to supporting the District of Columbia, its residents and visitors whenever requested, he said.
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U.S. National Guard troops in Washington D.C. on 14/8. Photo: AP |
U.S. National Guard troops in Washington D.C. on 14/8. Photo: AP
The District of Columbia is the official name of Washington D.C. The district's security apparatus is typically managed by local authorities under the direct supervision of Congress.
However, on 11/8, President Donald Trump declared a public safety emergency in Washington, invoking Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to deploy federal forces and the National Guard to the city. Approximately 800 National Guard troops have arrived in Washington for duty.
The White House said this action aims to address "gang crime, youth agitation, addicts and homeless people" in the capital, despite Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser stating that violent crime rates in the city have decreased by 26% compared to last year and are at their lowest in 30 years.
Mayor Bowser believes that the city's limited home rule "has never faced a challenge like this." Hundreds of people protested last weekend against the decision to deploy federal police and the National Guard to the capital.
Rosa Brooks, a former reserve officer with the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and now a professor at Georgetown Law, said the decision to deploy the National Guard to patrol Washington's streets could lead to "dire" consequences. This is because the force is not trained for daily law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the move has received support from some Republican-led states. The governors of West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio announced they would send their National Guard troops to assist in Washington.
Thanh Danh (According to NPR, AFP)
