When Trump took control of the National Guard in California to protect U.S. government property and personnel performing federal functions, did you see that he declared his right to send “at least 2,000 National Guard personnel … for 60 days” to any state, including Vermont?

He could have written his order just for LA while there was vandalism, but he chose to write an order including “locations where protests against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations.” Locations where protests are likely to occur? Not locations where violent protest is occurring?

About 42,000 Vermonters attended peaceful No Kings Day protests on June 14. That is 6.5% of the population. Around 5 million people in the U.S. protested that day, possibly the largest single day protest in U..S history, but that is only 1.4% of the U.S. population.

With Vermonters so politically active, do you think Trump will want to claim control of 2,000 National Guard members in Vermont for two months if he thinks protests of federal functions, like ICE raids on dairy farms or housing construction sites, are likely to occur?

Violence really disturbs me, whether it is a political protest, a personal crime, a war, or someone who has lost control. I sure appreciate our law enforcement officers putting themselves in danger to protect the rest of us.

But the First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” When Trump was talking with reporters about his birthday parade he said, “If there’s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force.” He did not say violent protesters would be arrested. He said “any protester.”

Is it okay with you that Trump is not respecting the rule of law, the First Amendment to the great Constitution of the United States? Would you feel okay if the next Democratic president took control of thousands of troops in Vermont?

Clove Haviva

Bristol

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/

https://vtdigger.org/2025/06/19/was-the-no-kings-day-protest-against-donald-trump-the-biggest-in-vermont-history/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/List-of-the-Largest-Single-Day-Protests-in-the-United-States

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-warns-military-parade-protesters-will-face-heavy-force-rcna212136