1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

When tensions are high, what keeps people safe is de-escalation. Groups like Indivisible are committed to nonviolent, safe protests and so regularly host de-escalation trainings. They teach people to stay calm, using non-threatening body language/tone, let upset people talk themselves down, etc. If the government wants to keep LA safe (from the peaceful protestors?), these are the strategies that should be used. Therefore, it is so disturbing that Trump has unnecessarily and perhaps illegally deployed 2,000 National Guard troops against protesters in Los Angeles. That is an astonishing level of escalation. This, plus the excessive and violent use of force to clear peaceful protestors who were exercising their Constitutional right, is an alarming authoritarian overreach by the President and his regime. This disproportionate military response to largely peaceful protests will further inflame tensions and erode civil liberties that are fundamental to our democracy. The President's false characterization of protesters as "insurrectionists" and "paid troublemakers", which Senator Husted parroted, is a dangerous attempt to delegitimize dissent and justify oppressive tactics reminiscent of a police state. This is the hallmark of dictatorships and an unacceptable transgression in a democratic society governed by the rule of law. These protests, regardless of one's view of them, in no way constitute an armed insurrection or present a threat to national security. They represent the exercise of constitutional rights that must be safeguarded, not suppressed through martial force. The governor and mayors have made it clear that federal intervention is unwanted and unnecessary, as local law enforcement has the situation under control. Activating a state's National Guard without the governor's request for the first time in 50 years is an unconstitutional violation of state sovereignty. Specific incidents like ICE agents shooting tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and less-lethal rounds at protesters in Paramount demonstrate an unacceptable willingness to use military force against civilians exercising their First Amendment rights. Arresting union leaders like David Huerta for protesting further chills free speech. I urge Congress to intervene and curtail this reckless overreach to prevent further civil rights violations and uphold democratic principles. Forcefully check and balance this regime's authoritarian abuses of power immediately. Government crackdowns turn people against your administration. Every time it tramples our rights, there will be even stronger outcry. Violence inflicted on leaders like Huerta (who required HOSPITALIZATION) will turn their coalitions against you. Republicans should see that this overreach is not only horrifying, but desperate and unstrategic. The American people will not allow it. Stop it or be voted out.