"No Monarch Since 1776": Protesters Rally in Los Angeles, Military Present Amidst City Streets
Protest action on a massive scale not seen since Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017 is still causing a stir, as tensions simmer with the presence of Marines and National Guard members.
Brushing up on protest history, there have been significant global and national demonstrations in response to Trump's administration. Protests sprang up in Brussels, Belgium, during his visit with local officials, with around 6,000 protesters denouncing Trump's foreign policy and rhetoric. On a global front, when Trump announced his intentions to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, there were climate protests in cities like Paris, Montreal, and Mexico City, symbolized by city halls bathed in green light.
Solidarity protests dubbed "International Solidarity" also took place worldwide, expressing disapproval of Trump's immigration policies, environmental stances, and perceived autocratic tendencies. Protests against his administration's direction were often organized into spontaneous or planned gatherings in major cities, showing widespread concern.
In the United States, there were notable protests at JFK Airport against the detention of refugees due to Trump's travel ban and — you won't believe this — thousands protested in New York City during his first return since his inauguration! A White House gathering also took place after Trump's announcement to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
Now, the question arises: Where did the Marines and National Guard fit into these protests? Well, interestingly enough, there's no documented involvement of U.S. Marines or National Guard in crowd control or protest management during the international and major domestic protests against Trump's policies. While state governors in the US might activate their National Guard during emergencies, they kept their distance from these early protests against Trump's policies. In foreign protests, the military's role is merely about providing security, not managing protests.
To put it into perspective, here's a breezy look at some crucial protests and their connection, if any, to the Marines and National Guard:
| Location/Event | Year | Protest Focus | Role of Marines/National Guard ||-------------------------------|--------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|| JFK Airport, USA | 2017 | Immigration/Travel Ban | None || Brussels, Belgium | 2017 | Foreign Policy | None || White House, USA | 2017 | Climate Policy | None || Paris, Montreal, Mexico City, etc. | 2017 | Climate Policy | None || Manhattan, USA | 2017 | General Anti-Trump | None |
So, there you have it! The Marines and National Guard didn't get their hands dirty during these international and major domestic protests against Trump or his policies.Generally, it was local law enforcement who took the lead in managing these demonstrations.
The Marines and National Guard did not play a role in the protests against Donald Trump's administration that occurred in various global cities, such as Brussels, Paris, Montreal, and Mexico City, despite their presence during some protest events in the U.S. Instead, local law enforcement primarily managed the demonstrations, with the military's role limited to providing security. On the other hand, other protests focused on general politics and Trump's broader policies, such as the solidarity protests worldwide expressing disapproval of Trump's immigration policies, environmental stances, and autocratic tendencies.
