National Guard Leaves San Diego County After Peaceful Protests

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — After a weekend of largely peaceful protests, the California National Guard has withdrawn from San Diego County, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.

Two hundred troops were deployed Thursday in the county to support police officers in La Mesa and sheriff's deputies across the region after a request from Sheriff Bill Gore following the violence of the previous weekend.

"We want to thank them for supporting @SDSheriff and our partner law enforcement agencies to ensure the protection of life and property while balancing people's right to assemble peacefully," the department said Sunday night on Twitter.

The withdrawal comes a day after San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher requested the National Guard leave the area.

"We need to focus on efforts around authentic dialogue, uplifting the voices of the peaceful protestors and driving substantive change to address the problem of systemic racism," Fletcher said on Twitter. "These protests are peaceful and the presence of the National Guard only escalates the situation."

The troops were deployed to the county amid protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on Memorial Day after being restrained by police in Minneapolis.

A total of 100 troops were deployed to La Mesa, where arson, looting and vandalism left businesses damaged and destroyed the previous weekend. A protest the same weekend in downtown San Diego also resulted in damage to several businesses.

Another 100 troops were deployed along with deputies elsewhere across the county, according to the department.

A number of demonstrations were held over the weekend throughout the county, from Carlsbad to Chula Vista and La Jolla to Santee, including marches, protests, a paddle out and a multiple-city caravan.

Also see:

• Cars Caravan Across San Diego County To Protest Police Violence
• 200 National Guard Troops Deployed In San Diego County
• Law Enforcement Agencies Across San Diego County Cease Chokeholds
• Thousands Raised For La Mesa Businesses After Devastating Riots
• La Mesa Cleans Up After Night Of Protests, Arson And Looting