New Letter Urges Governor Whitmer to Recall Michigan National Guard from DC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, a coalition of more than two dozen organizations sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer urging her to recall the Michigan National Guard members she sent to Washington, DC, at President Trump’s request. The letter, signed by organizations including Public Citizen, Brennan Center, Indivisible, MoveOn, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, SEIU, and others, calls on Governor Whitmer to exercise her legal option under 32 U.S.C. § 502(f) to recall Michigan Guard forces from DC.
Citing the potential for misuse of Michigan’s guard forces, the letter warns against the politicization of the National Guard and the normalization of military occupation, stating that, “As the State of Michigan recognized when it joined an amicus brief in litigation challenging the deployments, this show of military force for the purpose of policing civilians is unprecedented, dangerous, and unlawful. The use of the military to support civilian law enforcement should be a last resort in cases where emergencies have overwhelmed civilian authorities.”
“Governor Whitmer should not allow Michigan National Guard troops to be unwitting participants in Trump’s authoritarian project.” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “With July 4 celebrations over, Gov. Whitmer should bring the Michigan troops home immediately.”
The full letter is available to view on the Brennan Center’s website. For more information, or to speak with an expert, contact ATounkara@citizen.org.