Will Maryland National Guard Riot Control Force Stifle Protests, Elections?
A National Guard spokesman explained that these on-call units have existed for around twenty years in every U.S. state and territory, ready for governors to deploy as needed. Recently, a top military official issued a memo ahead of the midterm elections requiring every state and territory’s National Guard to form reaction forces capable of crowd and riot control.
According to internal communications, the Maryland National Guard made this directive a priority, instructing its staff that hundreds of soldiers must be prepared to mobilize by April. However, this move sparked concern among former service members and legislators who worry it could suppress peaceful demonstrations or intimidate voters during future elections.
“These on-call elements have existed for approximately 20 years in every state and territory as a response force available to governors,” said a National Guard spokesman.
A public safety analyst told The Baltimore Sun that employing the National Guard for crime control is unprecedented, expensive, and unwise. The suggestion has added to a growing national debate about the appropriate use of military forces in civilian settings.
Nationwide Protests and Political Climate
Across the country, “No Kings” protests have emerged in major cities since President Donald Trump took office, including demonstrations in Baltimore. These gatherings have focused on issues like rising health care costs under Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by Congress earlier in the summer, and the federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history.
At various points, Trump has considered or attempted to deploy the National Guard to curb civil unrest, notably in Portland during prolonged protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that grew increasingly confrontational.
Author’s Summary
The Maryland National Guard’s rapid response directive has raised fears that military readiness could spill into politics, heightening tensions over civil liberties and protest rights.