PA National Guard Activated To Support Police Amid Protests

PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania National Guard has been activated to help local police keep order as demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd continued on Sunday. More than 600 guardsmen have been assigned to support munipalities, the state said.

Peaceful protests turned into destructive and violent looting in many places around the state on Saturday and Sunday, especially in Center City Philadelphia, which was trashed for blocks.

Looting continued in the city on Sunday, as Philadelphia Police and SWAT teams engaged with protesters everywhere from Port Richmond and Kensington to West Philadelphia.

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“The Pennsylvania National Guard is ready to provide safety and protection to our communities,” Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “Our troops are trained to protect life, preserve property and ensure people’s right to peacefully demonstrate.”

Gov. Wolf gave the order to activate the National Guard, after receiving requests from municipalities statewide. Protests and looting have also occurred in places like Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, and the Philadelphia suburbs have seen incidents at the King of Prussia Mall, Limerick Outlets, and elsewhere.

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In a news conference earlier Sunday, Wolf urged protesters to "honor democracy" while making their viewpoints heart. "Speak your mind, and speak it with peace," he said.

As of Sunday around mid-afternoon, a total of 146 people had been arrested in relation to the protest in Philadelphia over the weekend. Eight of those arrests occurred Sunday. A curfew is in place for the city from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday.

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