There haven’t been any reports of violent or non-peaceful protests in Missouri, despite what the governor’s executive order said.
MISSOURI, USA — Thousands of people throughout Missouri marched in numerous protests on Wednesday, criticizing mass arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nationwide.
All of the protests on Wednesday in St. Louis and Kansas City were reported to have been peaceful. Despite this, Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday declared a State of Emergency due to “civil unrest” and activated the Missouri National Guard as a precautionary measure ahead of the “No Kings” protests planned throughout the state this weekend.
The executive order allows Adjutant General Charles Hausman, the top official of the Missouri National Guard, to order the Guard into active service as he deems necessary to protect life and property, according to a press release sent by Kehoe’s office.
“We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” Kehoe said. “While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities.”
The “No Kings” group, which is organizing the protests, states on its website that a commitment to nonviolent action is a “core principle” behind their events. They also expect all protesters and event participants to de-escalate any confrontation and to act lawfully.
Missouri House of Representatives Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) called Kehoe’s order “unwarranted” and an attempt to intimidate and suppress peaceful protest.
“The protests planned this weekend across Missouri and throughout the nation were sparked by the president’s unwarranted and heavy-handed military response to opposition to his policies,” Aune said in a press release. “By doing the same, the governor will only heighten tensions and increase the possibility of conflict. Governor Kehoe should staunchly defend the rights of Missourians, not mimic the authoritarianism of the president.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested and detained over 100 immigrants in the Los Angeles area alone amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and deployment of Marines and National Guard, triggering ongoing protests in California.
READ MORE: Anti-ICE protests ramp up in St. Louis
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees people the right to assemble and express their views through protest. Click here for the American Civil Liberties Union’s breakdown of the rights constitutionally guaranteed to protesters.
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