Presidents from Trump to Lincoln who sent troops to quell US civil unrest
President Donald Trump’s decision to mobilize U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to anti-immigration enforcement riots has sparked controversy among Democrats. The battalion of about 700 Marines has positioned themselves near the city, prepared to intervene if necessary. Armed with shields and batons, the Marines do not have the authority to make arrests.
The deployment of active duty forces in response to civil unrest is not unprecedented. The Insurrection Act allows presidents to deploy troops during national emergencies, despite restrictions under the Posse Comitatus Act.
Looking back at history, there have been several instances when presidents ordered troops into American cities to restore order. One notable example is the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles in 1992. After four LAPD officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, riots erupted, prompting then-President George H.W. Bush to deploy 4,000 U.S. Army soldiers and 1,500 Marines, along with National Guardsmen. The riots resulted in over 60 deaths, thousands of injuries, and widespread destruction.
Another significant event was the Washington, D.C. riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed 13,000 federal troops, including active duty Army units, to restore peace in the nation’s capital.
In 1967, the Detroit Race Riots broke out after a police raid, leading to 43 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and the destruction of 400 buildings. Michigan Governor George Romney called in 8,000 National Guardsmen, with President Johnson sending 4,700 federal troops to support local forces.
The Little Rock Integration Crisis in 1957 saw nine Black students attempting to enroll at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. Governor Orval Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to block their entry, prompting President Dwight D. Eisenhower to federalize the Guard and dispatch the 101st Airborne Division to ensure the students’ safety.
During the Civil War in 1863, the New York City Draft Riots erupted over the Union’s first draft law, leading to racially charged violence. President Abraham Lincoln redirected Union troops from Gettysburg to restore order and protect Black Americans from the riots.
These historical examples highlight the complex relationship between military intervention and civil unrest in American history. President Trump’s decision to deploy Marines in Los Angeles underscores the ongoing debate over the role of the military in domestic law enforcement.
