{"id":73561,"date":"2025-06-17T09:45:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T16:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73561"},"modified":"2025-06-18T09:46:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T16:46:27","slug":"military-leaders-to-trump-end-las-occupation-we-arent-a-domestic-police-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=73561","title":{"rendered":"Military Leaders to Trump: End LA\u2019s occupation. We aren\u2019t a domestic police force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0As Governor Newsom\u2019s motion to block the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal militarization of downtown Los Angeles heads to the Ninth Circuit, former military leaders agree \u2013 Trump\u2019s takeover poses grave risk to both servicemembers and civilians and to our country\u2019s constitutional norms.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0As Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s lawsuit to block the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal militarization of downtown Los Angeles heads to the Ninth Circuit, a powerful new amicus brief from retired four-star generals, admirals, and former Army and Navy secretaries backs the state\u2019s position. Their message is clear: Trump\u2019s takeover poses a grave risk to our servicemembers, our civilians, and our constitutional norms.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cOur members of the military deserve the highest praise and honors for their service to our nation. But with one swift stroke of a pen 3,000 miles away, Trump has put them all on the frontlines of an unneeded military activation.\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n
\nGovernor\u00a0Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Amicus brief<\/h2>\n

Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of the state\u2019s emergency request to revert control of the CalGuard back to the Governor. Read the amicus brief\u00a0<\/span>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hear it from former military leaders why Trump\u2019s move is wrong:<\/p>\n

Diverts soldiers from critical missions<\/span><\/h2>\n

California relies heavily on the rapid response capabilities of its National Guard, especially during wildfire season, which begins in June and poses a threat of fast-moving, large-scale fires. The CalGuard is vital to the state\u2019s disaster preparedness and emergency response. Diverting California Guard personnel from these critical state missions risk degrading the state\u2019s emergency preparedness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Poses a danger to the safety of all\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

U.S. military personnel are not extensively trained for domestic law enforcement, particularly in emotionally charged situations or civil unrest. This is a specialized skill set that law enforcement officers train for continually. Ordering troops to act against fellow Americans places them in an operationally difficult position, potentially leading to irreparable harm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Politicizes the military<\/span><\/h2>\n

The U.S. military’s apolitical nature is jeopardized by the President’s actions, which have \u201covertly pitted the military against his professed political opponents.\u201d For example, he suggested Governor Newsom be arrested, requested military personnel cheer as if at a political rally, and stated protesters at his birthday party in Washington, D.C. over the weekend would be met with “very big force.” Involving the military in domestic political controversies risks undermining its ability to recruit and retain servicemembers, garner broad public support, and ultimately achieve its core mission of protecting the nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

What they\u2019re saying<\/span><\/h2>\n

Recently,\u00a0<\/span>several veterans and veteran rights\u2019 groups<\/a>\u00a0came together to decry Trump\u2019s militarization of California, read their excerpts below:<\/p>\n