In a recent piece for the Wall Street Journal, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) suggested that if the National Guard can’t manage the riots that have been destabilizing cities, then perhaps more drastic measures are needed. This comes almost five years after he previously pushed for the invocation of an 1807 law to address national unrest following George Floyd’s death during Donald Trump’s administration.
Cotton described the recent riots in Los Angeles as chaotic, with reports of anarchists setting vehicles ablaze, clashing with police, and vandalizing businesses. He noted that these scenes were reminiscent of the upheaval seen in 2020, which he claims were intensified by the presence of foreign flags among the protestors.
“Democrats seemed to somewhat endorse the Black Lives Matter riots that tormented the city back then,” Cotton remarked. “In comparison, these current riots seem even worse.”
He also stated, “At least the BLM protestors weren’t waving foreign flags.”
During the height of unrest, Trump dispatched 4,000 National Guard members along with 700 active-duty Marines to help maintain order in Los Angeles, particularly to safeguard immigration enforcement agencies conducting arrests.
Cotton argued that if the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies fail to restore order, the president might have to consider deploying active-duty troops, relying on the Rebellion Act of 1807, which has been in place for nearly as long as the nation itself.
He noted that, thus far, Trump has deemed it unnecessary to invoke this law. “Let’s hope that local, federal, and National Guard forces manage to bring stability back to LA,” he expressed.
Additionally, Cotton mentioned that Congress must stand behind federal law enforcement and hinted at upcoming legislation aimed at increasing penalties for those who assault officers during riots, categorizing such acts as serious crimes for non-citizens.
This commentary reflected a more intense sentiment compared to his earlier New York Times op-ed titled “Send in the Troops,” which had faced considerable backlash and editorial notes highlighting editorial misgivings.
The current article’s title was “Send in the Troops for Real.”
The Rebellion Act, activated during the 1992 LA riots after the beating of Rodney King, permits military deployment in domestic turmoil to restore order, effectively bypassing the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
When reflecting on the current situation, Trump noted, “If riots escalate, I’ll certainly consider calling upon this law. We’ll see what happens.”
