MILWAUKEE — Gov. Tony Evers has authorized the Wisconsin National Guard to support Milwaukee police after "agitators" disrupted peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer."
In a joint statement from Evers, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Mayor Tom Barrett, guard members will "protect people who are exercising their First Amendment rights and ensure the safety of the public."
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, Barrett and Crowley requested support from the National Guard on Saturday after violence erupted overnight.
Milwaukee police said 50 people were arrested and over a dozen businesses were damaged after "civil unrest."
125 active duty members are being deployed to Milwaukee.
“It is critical that people are able to peacefully express their anger and frustration about systemic racism and injustice, in Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and our Nation. This limited authorization of citizen soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard will help protect people who are exercising their First Amendment rights and ensure the safety of the public," Evers, Crowley and Barrett said in a joint statement.
