Currently, 150 Ohio National Guard troops are stationed in Washington, D.C., at the request of President Trump. The justification? A so-called “crime emergency.” But here’s the truth: crime in D.C. is already at a 30-year low. This deployment isn’t about public safety—it’s about political theater.

Former lawmakers, legal experts, and civil rights organizations agree. They’ve called this mission “ill-considered, legally problematic, and unwarranted.” The National Guard exists to assist in genuine emergencies—such as natural disasters and crises that overwhelm local resources—not to police our communities or serve as a political prop.

When we allow the military to be used for routine law enforcement, we cross a dangerous line. It risks normalizing military control over civilian life. If it can happen in Washington, D.C., what’s to stop it from happening in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, or Toledo next?

Ohioans know the painful history of the National Guard being used against civilians. We refuse to see it repeated. Our Guard members should be serving Ohioans in times of true need, not being deployed as pawns in partisan stunts.

What You Can Do

We need to make it clear: Ohioans don’t want this. Join the ACLU in demanding action. Tell Governor DeWine to bring our Guard members home where they belong.

👉 Take action today

Together, we can protect civil liberties, defend democracy, and ensure the Ohio National Guard is used for real emergencies—not artificial ones staged for politics.