1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

President Trump has deployed thousands of military troops to American cities and is threatening to do it again, demonstrating an egregious abuse of power. Earlier this year, in response to protests against his cruel mass deportation campaign, he deployed federalized National Guard troops, federal agents, and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles. Later, he fabricated an emergency to temporarily seize control of Washington, D.C.’s police department, deploying D.C. National Guard troops and troops from several other states to patrol the city. Additionally, his threats against other American cities have escalated, including his deployment of armed federal agents and military troops to Memphis and Portland. It is crucial to recognize that President Trump’s power grab aims to instill fear in major American cities. However, regardless of their uniforms or claims, federal agents and military troops are bound by the Constitution and must uphold our rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, due process, and safeguards against unlawful searches and seizures. Furthermore, regardless of whether the president cites false crime statistics, vilifies immigrants, or claims that peaceful protest is insurrection, sending armed federal agents and military troops into our communities is unjustified and dangerous. As a member of Congress, please take action and declare that military troops do not belong on our streets.