Wisconsin National Guard to Support Local Law Enforcement in Milwaukee
MADISON — At the request of Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Gov. Tony Evers today authorized the Wisconsin National Guard to support the Milwaukee community’s response to agitators that have disrupted peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Pursuant to Section 321.39(1)(a)5. of the Wisconsin Statutes, the governor is ordering into state active duty members of the Wisconsin National Guard necessary to support local law enforcement in Milwaukee County, beginning immediately. Specifically, the governor is authorizing 125 members to be immediately utilized by local law enforcement. Any additional members being utilized require direct verbal authorization from the governor. Any members called to active duty may only be used to provide support to local law enforcement and to protect critical infrastructure, such as utilities and fire stations, and cultural institutions necessary for the wellbeing of the community. The National Guard may not be used to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest or interfere with the media’s ability to report on these activities.
Gov. Evers, County Executive Crowley, and Mayor Barrett released the following statement:
“It is critical that people are able to peacefully express their anger and frustration about systemic racism and injustice, in Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and our Nation. This limited authorization of citizen soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard will help protect people who are exercising their First Amendment rights and ensure the safety of the public.”
More about the 2020 Racial Justice Protests
- Op Ed: ‘We Need More’ - Charles Q. Sullivan - Mar 4th, 2022
- Milwaukee Officers Circulate “2020 Riot” Coins? - Isiah Holmes - Nov 14th, 2021
- City Hall: Police Department Tweets Lied To Public - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 27th, 2021
- Lawmakers Request Civil Rights Probe of Tosa PD - Isiah Holmes - Jul 23rd, 2021
- How Does Police Reform Compare To Other Cities? - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 14th, 2021
- Bowen Introduces Package of Policing Bills - Isiah Holmes - Jun 4th, 2021
- Activists Reflect on a Year of Protest - Isiah Holmes - Jun 3rd, 2021
- One Year After George Floyd’s Death - Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service - May 30th, 2021
- Op Ed: After a Year of Protests What’s Changed? - Angela Lang - May 27th, 2021
- Film: Bullhorn Films Documents Protests - Michael Holloway - May 20th, 2021
Read more about 2020 Racial Justice Protests here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Gov. Tony Evers
Gov. Evers, AG Kaul Announce Direct Legal Challenge to Wisconsin’ s 1800s-era Criminal Abortion Ban
Jun 28th, 2022 by Gov. Tony EversIn wake of U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, lawsuit challenges archaic abortion statute banning nearly all abortions in Wisconsin, including in cases of rape and incest
