Prevent Normalization Of Military Force In U.S. Cities

Federal Militarization Is a Threat to Democracy President Trump has announced plans to deploy the National Guard and possibly federal troops into Chicago, following similar actions in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. This represents not genuine law enforcement but a dangerous power grab that undermines state authority and pushes us toward authoritarian control. Constitutional and Legal Risks The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits active-duty military from engaging in civilian law enforcement except under very narrow conditions. The Insurrection Act, which provides limited exceptions, was designed for rare emergencies, not selective targeting of Democratic-led cities. In Chicago, both Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have explicitly rejected federal intervention. Proceeding without state authorization would violate both the Tenth Amendment and long-standing principles of federalism. Legal scholars warn these deployments may already stand on unconstitutional ground. Selective Targeting Reveals Political Motives The administration points to Chicago’s homicide count of 573 in 2024 as justification, yet cities with higher per capita murder rates - such as St. Louis, Detroit, and Baltimore - are not on the deployment list. This selective targeting exposes the political nature of the action. It is political theater masquerading as public safety, meant to project federal dominance over dissenting local governments. Harm to Communities and Public Safety History shows that militarizing cities does not solve crime. Instead, it erodes trust between communities and police, fosters adversarial relationships, and normalizes the use of force against civilians. The costs of these deployments - millions of taxpayer dollars - could be redirected to community policing, mental health services, and economic programs proven to reduce crime. Congressional Action Required I urge you to: 1. Speak out publicly against unauthorized military deployments. 2. Hold oversight hearings to examine legality and hear from constitutional scholars, civil rights leaders, and military officials. 3. Develop legislation requiring explicit state authorization for any domestic deployment of the National Guard or military forces, with strict limits on federal power. 4. Protect the Posse Comitatus Act from erosion and reaffirm the principle that military forces are not domestic police.