Kehoe activates National Guard ahead of weekend protests
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order on Thursday, activating the National Guard ahead of protests scheduled around the state and country this weekend.
“We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” Kehoe said in the release. “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.”
Kehoe signed the order ahead of the “No Kings” protests that are occurring around the nation on Saturday in response to President Donald Trump’s military parade. One of the gatherings will occur from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in Columbia at the Boone County Courthouse. Other gatherings are planned in Jefferson City and Boonville.
Additionally, protests have occurred around the country this week in response to ICE operations, with the most attention occurring in Los Angeles. Protests against ICE have also been reported in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Kehoe’s order specifically mentions “the rule of law must be maintained in the cities of Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis, and other affected communities.”
“Executive Order 25-25 declares that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest and calls on the Adjutant General, or his designee, to forthwith call and order into active service such portions of the National Guard as he deems necessary to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property.”
The order lasts through June 30.
Reactions from around the state
State Democrats made several statements criticizing the governor’s declaration, with state House Minority Leader Ashley Aune calling it “unwarranted.”
“Governor Kehoe’s preemptive declaration of a state of emergency as Missourians prepare to protest an increasingly authoritarian presidential administration is a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress First Amendment rights,” Aune wrote in a statement. “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. 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.”
State Rep. Michael Burton (D-St. Louis County) also called on Kehoe to rescind the order, stating:
“Let me be clear. There is no need for the Missouri National Guard to be deployed at this time. The activation of military personnel in response to peaceful protests does nothing but inflate anxiety and increase tensions. Missourians have the constitutional right to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard without being met with armed force or intimidation.”
Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) pushed back strongly on the order, saying it will raise tensions at the protest.
“The problem is when you bring in the National Guard, you raise attention and it causes increased agitation. So it almost becomes that you’re—it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So people want to get together. They want to protest peacefully. But then you bring in the military and then it just raises tensions,” Tyson Smith said. “It’s really a slap in the face of the citizens. And you’re basically saying, ‘I don’t trust the citizens to protest peacefully.’ The citizens of Missouri have been protesting peacefully all season. So there’s no reason to bring in the military.”
Missouri Republicans backed the governor’s order.
“We will not allow what is going on in LA to happen in Missouri. Thank you Governor Mike Kehoe for taking these preemptive measures to ensure the lawlessness we’ve seen across our country does not reach our state,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on social media. “We will continue to support our law enforcement officers in protecting Missourians and preventing violence.”
Lisa Gore, Chair of the Boone County Republicans Central Committee, says she supports the governor’s decision but emphasized the importance of both safety and free speech.
“We do totally respect the right of free speech in the protest. I believe they are permitted to do that, and we do support them in being able to express their viewpoint. There’s many people in the military who have died in the past defending our rights,” Gore said.
While Boone County Republicans say they respect the protestors’ right to free speech, Gore added the military takes an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic, and that activating the National Guard is a smart move to help maintain the peace.
“I just would not want to see anything happen to families or children or any protesters or anything. Especially with our business downtown, I’d like us to maintain safety down there so that the businesses are not damaged,” Gore said.
However, Tyson Smith sees the activation of the National Guard as part of a broader, more troubling national trend.
“We’re in dangerous times in our country. The president is attacking the courts. Congress isn’t doing their part. They’re not standing up to the executive. We have to do our part and come out and let people know this is not acceptable,” Tyson Smith said. “We haven’t seen anything like this in this country since the thirties leading up to World War Two. It’s time for people to stand up to oppression and stand up to tyranny.”
Check back for updates.