Three states are sending National Guard troops to Washington

Three US states have taken action to deploy their National Guard units to the capital, Washington, in aid of efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to reform policing in Washington through federal measures to combat crime and homelessness, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.

West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops, while South Carolina pledged 200 and Ohio said it would send 150 in the coming days.

The actions announced yesterday were taken after protesters pushed back federal law enforcement and National Guard troops deployed in the city, whose institutions are dominated by the Democratic Party. This came after President Trump's executive order to federalize local police forces and mobilize about 800 National Guard members in the District of Columbia.

By bolstering existing National Guard and federal law enforcement forces with outside troops, Trump is exerting even tighter control over the city. The president has justified the measures by saying he needs to urgently address crime and homelessness, even though city officials say violent crime is lower than during Trump's first term.

A protest against Trump's intervention gathered dozens of people in the Dupont Circle area on Sunday, who then marched to the White House. The demonstrators carried a banner that read: “No” to the fascist takeover of Washington.“ Some held up signs that read: “No” of military occupation“.

Trump, for his part, was at his golf club in Virginia after a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.