1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The deployment of active-duty U.S. Marines to Los Angeles against the objections of state authorities is a concerning overreach of federal power that undermines civil liberties. Utilizing military forces in a domestic law enforcement capacity sets a dangerous precedent and escalates tensions instead of promoting resolution. It is imperative that we uphold the fundamental principle of posse comitatus, which prohibits the use of the armed forces for domestic law enforcement except in the gravest emergencies. The current situation, while tense, does not rise to that level of crisis necessitating martial law. We call upon the administration to immediately recall the Marines and instead pursue de-escalation through dialogue and address the root issues driving the protests through legal and constitutional means. Flooding American cities with troops will only breed more unrest and erode public trust in our institutions. As a nation founded on principles of freedom and democracy, we must find a peaceful path forward that respects the rights of citizens to protest injustice. Deploying the military against one's own populace should be an absolute last resort, not a knee-jerk reaction to civil disobedience. We urge a course correction towards restraint and reconciliation in this tumultuous period.