Will Maryland National Guard Riot Control Force Stifle Protests, Elections?
A National Guard spokesman stated that similar on-call units have been active in all U.S. states and territories for about twenty years, serving as rapid response forces under governors' authority.
According to internal communications, after a top military official released a memo before the midterm elections requiring every National Guard unit to establish a reaction force for crowd and riot control, the Maryland National Guard prioritized readiness and aimed to have hundreds of soldiers mobilized by April.
Former service members and some legislators expressed concern that this newly activated force could suppress peaceful demonstrations or discourage voter participation in upcoming elections.
A public safety analyst told The Baltimore Sun that using the National Guard to address common crime is “unprecedented, expensive, and unwise.”
Since President Donald Trump took office, large U.S. cities, including Baltimore, have seen the rise of “No Kings” protests targeting federal policies such as the increased health care costs within Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed Congress in the summer, as well as frustration over the ongoing federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.
At various points, President Trump has attempted to deploy the National Guard to contain protests, as seen in Portland during prolonged demonstrations near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that became increasingly tense.
Author’s Summary
This article highlights fears that Maryland’s new National Guard riot control force may curtail civil protests or affect future elections, amid growing political unrest across U.S. cities.