Military Police Prepare For Minneapolis Deployment: Report

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – As more than 1,000 additional Minnesota National Guard units are set to be deployed to assist in the policing of violent unrest in Minneapolis following the police-involved death of George Floyd, U.S. Army police units from around the country have been told to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis, according to reports.

The Defense Department ordered the Army to prepare to deploy active-member military units after protesting and rioting continued for the fourth straight night and into early Saturday, the New York Times reported. According to the report, the orders stem from the White House, where President Donald Trump has been seeking the advice of his national security team. The report notes that the order does not mean Army police will be activated but it's the first step in the process.

In light of Friday’s continued violence in the Twin Cities, Gov. Tim Walz has called upon the Minnesota National Guard for assistance. After 700 National Guard troops were sprang into action Friday, Walz has ordered another 1,000 members to Minneapolis in what would be the first full mobilization of the guard since World War II. On Saturday, Walz said is taking action to combat a group he characterized as a “tightly controlled” group of outside agitators. Walz said Saturday morning that 80 percent of the protestors are not Minnesota residents.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, police officials announced that 40 arrests were made overnight Friday with suspects being taken into custody mainly for burglary, curfew violations and destruction of property. Hennepin County jail logs showed detainees from Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois and Alaska, the newspaper reported.

The group, Walz said, has set out on an organized mission to “destabilize civil society.”

“Our cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are under assault,” Walz said on Saturday, but added with the additional presence of more troops and other law enforcement agencies, protesters “are going to get an overwhelming force of safety, security and peace,” by Saturday night.