Tucson Mayor will not be requesting National Guard
Somerton native says it would be "excessive"
TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - After days of nationwide protest, President Trump announced in a speech from the Rose Garden that he would use military action if state officials can't contain protest violence.
"I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights" Trump said.
Demonstrators in Tucson have been taking to the streets for multiple nights now, protesting the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis while in police custody May 25.
Now, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has spoken in response to Trump's speech, saying she will not be requesting the National Guard or any military presence in Tucson at this time, saying:
What we need is systemic reform and meaningful policy change, not militarization.
At this time, I am not requesting the national guard or any military presence in the @cityoftucson.
— Regina Romero (@TucsonRomero) June 2, 2020
This is excessive, and sends the wrong message to our community.
What we need is systemic reform and meaningful policy change, not militarization.
In a subsequent tweet, the Somerton native added that Trump's statements were, "Inflammatory and counter-productive. It is very alarming that he is more focused on ensuring individuals are allowed to carry weapons than upholding the 1st amendment rights of peaceful demonstrators demanding justice for George Floyd."
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued a statewide curfew Sunday, in an effort to subdue the late-night protesting seen in Tucson and Phoenix.
Monday night hundreds in Tucson attended a peaceful vigil marking the one-week anniversary of George Floyd's killing.
