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Fact check: What are some examples of things going bad when the national guard is called in to police the public or police protestors

Checked on August 25, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, several concerning examples emerge when the National Guard is deployed for policing purposes:

Recent Deployment Concerns:

  • Chicago opposition: Mayor Brandon Johnson has strongly opposed National Guard deployment to his city, calling it "illegal and costly" and arguing that it could destabilize public safety efforts despite the city's declining crime rates [1] [2]
  • Washington D.C. resistance: The deployment of National Guard to D.C. has faced significant pushback from city officials and residents, with 79% of D.C. residents opposing the federal action [3] [4]
  • NYC transit concerns: The Legal Defense Fund condemned Governor Hochul's plan to deploy National Guard into NYC's transit system, warning of potential harassment and surveillance of Black and Brown New Yorkers [5]

Systemic Issues Identified:

  • Militarization of cities: Multiple mayors, including Brandon Johnson (Chicago) and Karen Bass (Los Angeles), have expressed concerns that National Guard deployment leads to the militarization of their cities and undermines trust between law enforcement and communities [6]
  • Federal overreach: City officials view these deployments as attempts to undermine local authority and represent "an overreach of presidential power" [2]
  • Ineffective crime solutions: Critics argue that military presence "mistakes a heavily armed military and police presence for safety" and fails to address root causes like economic insecurity and lack of mental health services [5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important perspectives missing from the original question:

Political Motivations:

  • Some deployments are characterized as political stunts rather than genuine public safety measures, particularly when crime rates are actually lower in targeted cities [7]
  • Six Republican governors volunteered to send National Guard troops to D.C., despite many cities in their own states having higher crime rates than D.C. [4]

Constitutional and Legal Concerns:

  • City mayors and governors worry about "undermining democracy and shredding the Constitution" through federal intervention in local law enforcement [1]
  • The use of military for domestic law enforcement raises concerns about civil liberties and the potential for military forces to be used for political purposes [8]

Alternative Approaches:

  • Local officials argue that the federal government should focus on providing resources and support to address root causes of crime rather than relying on military force [6]
  • Critics suggest that addressing economic insecurity and lack of access to mental health services would be more effective than military deployment [5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and seeks factual examples, showing no apparent bias. However, the analyses reveal important contextual factors:

Incomplete Framing:

  • The question focuses on "things going bad" but doesn't acknowledge that many National Guard deployments for policing are proactive political decisions rather than responses to actual emergencies [7] [4]
  • The question doesn't distinguish between different types of National Guard deployments (emergency response vs. routine policing vs. political demonstrations of force)

Missing Contemporary Context:

  • The analyses show that recent National Guard deployments often occur in cities with declining crime rates, suggesting the deployments may serve purposes other than public safety [2] [7]
  • The question doesn't account for the racial and civil rights implications that organizations like the Legal Defense Fund have highlighted regarding surveillance and harassment of minority communities [5]

The question itself appears to be seeking legitimate information, but the analyses reveal that the issue is more complex than simply cataloging incidents where "things went bad" - it involves ongoing constitutional, political, and civil rights concerns about the militarization of domestic law enforcement.

Want to dive deeper?
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Can the National Guard be held liable for injuries or deaths during protest policing?
How does the Posse Comitatus Act limit the National Guard's role in domestic law enforcement?