500 National Guard troops deployed to Sacramento as George Floyd protests continue
About 500 National Guard troops started to arrive in Sacramento on Monday, according to a city news release.
The city and police department made the request for additional assistance Sunday, the release said.
The National Guard troops will allow the police to respond to any reports of violence and destruction of property as a fourth night of George Floyd protests is expected, the release said. The National Guard have been helping on coronavirus response in Sacramento for several weeks.
Troops have also been deployed in Los Angeles and Long Beach and are on standby in San Francisco.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg and council members are holding a virtual press conference at 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the National Guard’s presence and the curfew the city plans to instate Monday. A time for the curfew has not been set.
Earlier today, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is deploying National Guard troops where needed to cities under duress from protests and subsequent violence. Newsom said the state called up another 1,100 guard members on Monday, to supplement 3,400 who had been mobilized over the weekend.
He said most have been stationed in Los Angeles, where destruction and theft has been worst, but some are being sent to Northern California now.
The mobilization is part of a coordinated statewide mutual aide system, allowing cities to send officers to neighboring jurisdictions that are struggling to maintain the peace.
The city of Sacramento police have been supplemented on the streets by officers from 10 other agencies.
City officials said they will not divulge how they will be using National Guard personnel, nor how they are deploying their mutual aide officers.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:41 PM.
