(WXYZ) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she has authorized two companies of the Michigan National Guard to head to Wisconsin to "support public safety" and "protect First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly."
Whitmer says the move is in response to a request by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
“Michigan’s dedicated National Guardsmen and women have played a vital role to keep Michiganders safe in recent months during the pandemic, and they were a key factor in ensuring peaceful protests in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor earlier this summer,” said Governor Whitmer in a news release. “Following a request from Governor Evers, I have authorized the use of two companies of the Michigan National Guard to assist civil authorities with public safety. I am confident that our guardsmen and women will work hard to keep our neighbors in Wisconsin safe while working to protect their First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly.”
“The Michigan National Guard is always ready to support civil authorities when requested to assist,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in a news release. “The men and women of the Michigan National Guard are well trained, equipped, and ready to assist our neighbors and emergency response partners in Wisconsin to protect people, their property, and their right to peacefully protest.”
Whitmer's office says the Guard will operate under State Active Duty through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This means they have not been federalized and Governor Whitmer can recall them to Michigan at any time.
