Use of active duty military to contain demonstrations should only be a last resort.
On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper clarified the call from President Trump to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to bring an end to riots around the nation sparked by the death of George Floyd. The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy the military in moments of domestic emergencies. The president suggested utilizing military force to end what he described as violent protests.
Secretary Esper said, “The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act.” However, a statement from the White House reasserted that President Trump would “use the Insurrection Act if needed.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Esper as he leads the Department of Defense.
- For President Trump to be led by the Lord to bring peace to the nation.
- For greater justice to grow in the U.S. as a result of the government’s actions.
Sources: AP, NPR, CNN
