San Francisco is taking a stand against the federalization of the National Guard, as City Attorney David Chiu spearheads a coalition filing an amicus brief. This coalition, consisting of cities, counties, and local elected officials nationwide, is pushing the Ninth Circuit to uphold a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump Administration's deployment of National Guard and military troops to Los Angeles, a move made in response to protests there, per the City Attorney's office announcement.
Following Governor Newsom's legal challenge, Attorney General Bonta secured a temporary restraining order to cease the National Guard's deployment and return its control to the Governor, which the Trump Administration appealed, leading to a temporary stay until a Ninth Circuit hearing scheduled for yesterday. The concerns at the heart of the legal dispute center on claims that the Trump Administration overstepped by sending in the military despite local objections, an action which has escalated tensions and could potentially disrupt the relationship between protesters and law enforcement in Los Angeles and it risks undermining the capacity of local authorities to ensure order while permitting peaceful protests, according to the City Attorney's office.
Cities big and small, from diverse corners of America, have joined this brief, linked by a common interest in their residents' safety and First Amendment rights. The brief argues that the President's decision endangers local law enforcement tactics and could lead to unnecessary militarized intervention in any local protest. "We pride ourselves on keeping our communities safe while upholding First Amendment rights. Our local law enforcement have deep experience and expertise in this area that the military simply does not," Chiu said in the City Attorney’s office release.
