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submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Several service members told advocacy groups they felt like pawns in a political game and assignment was unnecessary

California national guards troops and marines deployed to Los Angeles to help restore order after days of protest against the Trump administration have told friends and family members they are deeply unhappy about the assignment and worry their only meaningful role will be as pawns in a political battle they do not want to join.

Three different advocacy organisations representing military families said they had heard from dozens of affected service members who expressed discomfort about being drawn into a domestic policing operation outside their normal field of operations. The groups said they have heard no countervailing opinions.

“The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for,” said Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative, which represents the interests of military spouses, children and veterans.

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[-] evenglow@lemmy.world 26 points 11 months ago

Similar when they were doing border patrol in Texas.

Military training is kinda big on threat identification and assessment. You don't have to like the military to appreciate some of the stuff you can learn from it.

Protesting is not a threat to America. It's a threat to the people who are in charge.

[-] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

That’s why it’s essential we keep it peaceful while we increase our numbers. If we are non-violent, we cannot be determined to be a domestic threat, and it’s the military’s duty to protect us.

[-] MisterOwl@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

If we are non-violent, TACO will just say "They're violent!" and a majority of this country, including our military, will believe him. Things can only go downhill from here.

Arm yourselves.

[-] Serinus@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

And if we're still non-violent, someone will join who isn't and ensure some violence exists. It's Plan 1A in the dictator playbook.

[-] teejay@lemmy.world -1 points 11 months ago

It's not the military's duty to protect protestors. Just as the police have no obligation to protect and serve citizens.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I wholeheartedly agree with regards to the cops and ICE.

But I actually completely disagree on that statement being applied to the NG and Marines.

I’d argue that the armed forced have a rather explicit duty to protect their own fellow citizens as best they can.

And if some dipshit commander orders the marines or CANG to actually open fire on US civilians, I really do think that the E4 mafia might have something to say about that, and that the commissioned officers and cops and ICE fascists might very quickly find themselves staring down the barrels of the deployed troops.

Put another way: if active duty troops are ordered to fire on unarmed protesters, I would not at all be shocked if the enlisted and noncoms refuse the orders and mutiny, up to and including fragging the officers who gave the orders if they keep pushing.

Orangeboi et al seem to think the troops are robots. They’re absolutely not.

[-] tamman2000@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago
[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 months ago

One way or another, I feel like we’re all gonna see the answer to that question before this bullshit settles down in any meaningful way

[-] SaltSong@startrek.website 1 points 11 months ago

It’s not the military’s duty to protect protestors.

The path of enlistment starts like this:

I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same

Peaceful protest is our constitutional right.

[-] EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 11 months ago

The swearing-in of the President starts with something very similar, if not identical.

And yet, here we are.

[-] SaltSong@startrek.website 1 points 11 months ago

Just because Trump isn't performing his duty doesn't mean that he doesn't have a duty.

[-] MDCCCLV@lemmy.ca 2 points 11 months ago

Police rules of engagement is shockingly 0, cops kill anyone for any reason if they perceive even the slightest chance of a threat to themselves. The military has a rigorous 5-6 steps for using increasing amounts of violence from shouting to actually firing.

this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2025
221 points (99.1% liked)

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