Residents want to see more resistance to the idea of federal troops descending upon Detroit as President Donald Trump considers mobilizing the National Guard in more cities.
Trump hasn’t mentioned Detroit, but the president has said he plans to send troops to crack down on crime in “Democrat-run” cities like Chicago. The White House released a lengthy account of violence in Chicago last month, making the case for “the offer of assistance.”
The president sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to squash protests in Los Angeles under the legal justification of protecting federal property. Trump invoked the unique legal status of the District of Columbia as justification to order in troops for armed patrol and trash cleanup. It’s unclear what powers the president has to send troops into other cities.
Detroit activist Abayomi Azikiwe said the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois have taken a clear stand against deploying the military, and he wants Detroit leaders to voice their opposition to “fascism.” Council members didn’t respond to the public comments.
“We feel strongly that the City Council should take a position on this issue,” Azikiwe said. “We know it would not help the conditions in the city of Detroit. I’m old enough to remember the July of 1967, when thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to Detroit and people were killed.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order affirming local police remain under the city’s control, denouncing military occupation of the city.
Resident Karen Hammer said the city needs to “prepare for troops illegally occupying Detroit.” before it happens.
“What’s your plan?” Hammer said. “You need to prepare the public and proper community police and law enforcement on how to resist. You should prepare for these attacks on the well-being of Detroiters because they are surely planned to come.”
Chris Gilmer-Hill said Trump’s targeting of Black-majority cities is not a coincidence.
“We know Detroit is on the chopping block,” he said. We need council to stand up and do the right thing. There’s no chance of us just flying under the radar here.”
Trump contemplated sending federal agents to Detroit in 2020 during Black Lives Matter protests. At the time, Mayor Mike Duggan and the city’s police chief said the situation was being handled locally and “there could be no possible justification for such an action.”
Sheffield, who is running for mayor against Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., previously said she would work with the governor and other officials to prevent Trump from deploying troops to Detroit.
