Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has set the wheels in motion by signing Executive Order 25-25, which sees the Missouri National Guard stepping up as tensions rise in response to statewide immigration enforcement protests, according to an official release on the Office of the Governor's website. Kehoe's move comes as a preventative strategy aiming to keep the peace, maintaining that while peaceful protest is a right, "violence or lawlessness" will not be endured.
With the activation of the National Guard, Kehoe asserts his stance, stating, "We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state," the governor's belief in preemptive measures is clear, echoing sentiments of not "wait[ing] for chaos to ensue," as noted in the Office of the Governor's same release; a Unified Command comprising the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Missouri National Guard itself is already on the alert, primed to back local law enforcement where needed. This collaboration unfolds even as cities across Missouri brace for what is hoped to be nonviolent demonstrations.
The governor's office has outlined that the Executive Order activates portions of the National Guard deemed necessary by the Adjutant General, with a view to protect life and property in these tempestuous times—this directive gives them the authority to act in support of civilian authorities and provide assistance as mandated by Governor Kehoe.
In his statement, Governor Kehoe reiterates the importance of readying the state's defenses, affirming the need for compliance and coordination among the military forces and civilian law enforcement to ensure community protection, this articulation of support from the highest levels down to the streets where the reality of protest meets the governance of day-to-day seems set to test the fabric of Missouri’s handling of social discord. The full breadth of Executive Order 25-25, detailing the activation and roles of the National Guard, can be browsed on the Office of the Governor's official website where the complete statement is available for public review.
