‘If criminals want to conduct things like this,violence against others is best; we will never back down. President Trump will never back down.’
National Guard patrol along the National Mall in front of the Capitol (Picture: AP)
The National Guard are a reserve military force that serves both the federal government and the states.
Most Guardsmen are part-time military members with civilian jobs or schooling.
They typically serve one weekend per month and have two weeks per year of training.
They can be activated for major events at any time.
In August,Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a crime emergency in Washington. Within a month,more than 2,300 National Guard troops from eight states were patrolling the city under the command of the Secretary of the Army.
The administration has also deployed Guard troops to Los Angeles and tried to send troops into Chicago and Portland,Oregon,prompting other court challenges.
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