1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I write to you as a concerned American citizen alarmed by the ongoing erosion of constitutional safeguards against the use of military force on U.S. soil, particularly in light of the recent decision by the administration to federalize the National Guard in Los Angeles in response to protests reportedly provoked by ICE actions. The use of federal military resources to police civilian protests is a line that should not be crossed lightly. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and our constitutional protections under the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments are clear: the military is not to be used as a domestic police force, except in the narrowest of circumstances and with the greatest caution. Deploying the National Guard under federal authority against U.S. residents exercising their First Amendment rights undermines trust in our institutions, and risks turning civil dissent into civil conflict. History has warned us of these dangers before: the Kent State massacre in 1970 is but one stark example of the tragic cost when military force is used to silence public outcry. The current situation in Los Angeles—where ICE operations have reportedly sparked local outrage and protest, followed by a federalized National Guard response—raises urgent questions about the intentional provocation and chilling of constitutional freedoms. This pattern is deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democratic society. I respectfully urge you to: 1. Oppose the use of federal military forces against U.S. civilians, and call for the demobilization of any National Guard units deployed under federal control without clear congressional or state authorization. 2. Investigate ICE’s role in provoking unrest, including any coordination between federal immigration enforcement and protest suppression strategies. 3. Limit and roll back the 1033 Program, which continues to arm local law enforcement with military-grade equipment, blurring the line between policing and warfighting. 4. Defend the sanctity of the First Amendment, ensuring that no federal agency or executive order undermines the right to peaceful assembly, protest, and petition. 5. Demand full transparency and oversight over federal deployments in any American city, with consequences for executive overreach. The militarization of civilian spaces must never be normalized. Our Constitution was designed to constrain government power, not to empower government to suppress its people. We have a duty to protect this legacy before we lose it altogether. I trust that you will rise to this challenge and take immediate action to defend the rights of all Americans—regardless of race, immigration status, or political belief.