Holding the National Guard Accountable
What does it mean when the National Guard is deployed to patrol American cities?
Major General Randy Manner, US Army (Ret) served our nation in a variety of positions around the world for over thirty-six years. He joined the ACLU of D.C. to explain why the military should not be used to police our communities and why National Guard troops do not belong on the streets of Washington, D.C., or any American city.
Watch what he has to say
Which states have National Guard troops deployed in D.C.?
When the National Guard is Used Against Our Commuities
The consequences of deploying the National Guard in American communities are not theoretical. We have seen how the presence and actions of Guard members can affect the rights and safety of the people they encounter.
On September of 2025, Sam O’Hara was detained and handcuffed while using satire to protest the National Guard’s presence. Anna King, a retired U.S. Army captain and Iraq War veteran, was at home when National Guard members entered her gated patio without a warrant, seized her, and left her with injuries that required surgery.
Explore the cases of Sam O’Hara and Anna King.
Hear from Sam O'Hara and Anna King
Resources
Press Releases
The ACLU and Affiliates Nationwide Underscore Urgent Need for National Guard to Leave the Nation’s Capital
ACLU-D.C. Statement on the Withdrawal of Michigan’s National Guard Troops from Washington
ACLU-D.C. Comments on One-Year Anniversary of National Guard Troops in the Nation’s Capital
Decorated Veteran Assaulted by National Guard Troops in D.C. Files Legal Claim to Challenge Abuse
Take Action
There is no emergency that requires troops on D.C. streets. But without statehood, D.C. remains vulnerable to politicians using our city to push extreme policies.
End the deployment. Make D.C. the 51st state.
