ACLU of Arkansas Statement on Deployment of Arkansas National Guard Troops to Washington, D.C.

LITTLE ROCK — In response to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ announcement today that 100 members of the Arkansas National Guard will be deployed to Washington, D.C., the ACLU of Arkansas issued the following statement:

“Arkansans are proud of those who serve our communities with honor and integrity. But using our National Guard troops to advance political theater under the guise of ‘law and order’ is deeply troubling. Deploying Arkansas soldiers to police the streets of our nation’s capital — especially when framed in partisan and inflammatory terms — raises serious questions about civil liberties, public safety, and the politicization of military resources.”

“The National Guard exists to support and protect communities — not to serve as a political tool. The governor’s statements thanking President Trump and invoking ‘cleaning up crime’ echo the phony rhetoric that has too often justified over-policing and civil rights abuses, particularly in Black and Brown communities.”

“We should not be subjecting members of the Arkansas National Guard to this unprecedented action attempting to strip D.C. leaders of the ability to make decisions about local law enforcement. D.C. is being used as a testing ground for tactics that President Trump foreshadowed he would use across the country, empowering federal politicians to override local leaders’ decisions about how to best serve our communities.”

“At a time when so many Arkansas families are struggling with food insecurity, rising costs, and underfunded public services, our leaders should be focused on meeting needs here at home — not sending resources away for political spectacle. The people of Arkansas deserve real investments in safety, stability, and opportunity — not distractions from the challenges our communities face every day.”

The ACLU of Arkansas will continue monitoring the scope and conduct of this deployment to ensure that civil rights and constitutional protections are upheld.