US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Wednesday that he does not support the use of active-duty military troops against protesters. This statement comes as the US enters its eighth day of mass protests in cities across the country and is a direct contradiction to President Donald Trump’s earlier statements throughout the week.
Esper said that active-duty military units should only be used in a law enforcement capacity and as a last resort. He went on to further clarify that “I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act.” There are already thousands of US military troops deployed from the US National Guard across the country. The National Guard is a reserve force for the US Army, which is often used to assist states dealing with natural disasters and civil unrest. They have currently been deployed in more than 20 states to address protests and assist local law enforcement. However, these deployments have so far been requested by the cities or states themselves.
Esper’s statement is in direct contradiction to President Trump’s controversial tweet last Friday. Trump has also stated that “If states don’t take necessary action, I will deploy the military and quickly solve the problem for them.” Additionally, he supported the deployment of military units throughout Washington, DC, and has publicly discussed implementing a law from 1807 known as the Insurrection Act. This act states that the approval of governors before deploying the military in a state is not required when the president determines the situation in a state makes it impossible to enforce US laws or when citizens’ rights are threatened.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany addressed Esper’s comments in a statement on Wednesday, when asked if Esper’s remarks angered the President. She said, “If he loses confidence in Secretary Esper I’m sure you all will be the first to know.”
Meanwhile, the protests against systemic racism and the killing of George Floyd have continued for the eighth day across the US. Protests have generally been predominantly peaceful. Most cities have continued to have few reported incidents of violence or looting. However, some locations have continued to see incidents of violent riots and intense clashes with police forces. Many cities have instituted curfews that remain in place, but many were openly defied last night.
