Missouri hasjoined Texasin preemptivelyactivatingthe state's National Guard ahead of the "No Kings"protestsplanned at about 2,000 sites across the nation on June 14 against PresidentDonald Trump. Both Republican-led states followed Trump's lead after hetapped the California National Guardto respond to protests in Los Angeles. "While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities," GOP Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoewrote on social mediaJune 12 in announcing his executive order activating the Missouri National Guard. More:Planned 'No Kings' protests grow in number after LA militarization: What organizers expect Kehoe's order declares a state of emergency in Missouri "due to civil unrest." The move is another sign of the increasingly militarized response to unrest surrounding Trump's policies. Responding to demonstrations against ICE raids, the president deployed the California National Guard in Los Angeles over Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's objections, and also sent U.S. Marines. Trump's decision to bypass Newsom and federalize the California National Guard drew protests from Democrats. Newsom described it as the act of a "dictator." Republican governors in Texas and Missouri are activating the Guard on their own. Texas Gov. Greg AbbottannouncedJune 11 that the Texas National Guard would be deployed throughout the state "to ensure peace & order." The move came after protesters in Austinclashedwith police, and ahead of more planned protests in the state. About 2,000 "No Kings" protests are scheduled across the country on June 14, when Trump is staging alarge military paradein Washington D.C. on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. It's also Trump's 79th birthday. A map on the "No Kings" website shows dozens of protests are planned in Missouri and Texas. More:Governors aren't on same page about using National Guard for 'No Kings' protests With immigration enforcement protests spreading across the country andmillions of Americans expected todemonstrate on June 14, governors are having to weigh calling in the National Guard in case of violence versus chancing having Trump do it for them. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, told USA TODAY that Democratic governors are speaking with one another about being prepared if Trump deploys their state National Guard over their objections. Lujan Grisham said she expects the New Mexico protests to be peaceful and managed by local law enforcement. She isn't preparing the Guard in case protests turn violent because that isn't their job. The National Guard has long been used by governors to help police protests. When George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020, governors in 28 states had deployed the National Guard by June 3, 2020, to help contain demonstrations that erupted across the country, according to the Department of Defense. Among them was Newsom in California. California recently sued to stop Trump from deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles. A federal judge blocked the mobilization, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 13temporarily haltedthe judge's order. Contributing: Sarah D. Wire,Jeanine Santucci, Davis Winkie This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Missouri joins Texas, taps National Guard after Trump LA move
