Los Angeles unrest marks latest clash of US presidents, states over National Guard
Donald Trump's
deployment of California's National Guard marks the first time in decades that a US president openly defied a state governor and sent troops to an emergency zone.
By ordering 2,000 guardsmen to Los Angeles to help quell protests against raids by US immigration agents, Trump essentially mounted a takeover of the state's military regiments to address 'lawlessness' on the city's streets.
The National Guard is a reserve military rooted in the 17th century local militias created in the American colonies before the country's founding.
Since then the guard has had multiple responsibilities: domestic disaster relief and security, homeland defence and prevention of civil unrest; and acting as reserve forces for US military deployments overseas.
Police move to clear demonstrators after they blocked a street with a barricade. Photo: Reuters
Presidential orders to deploy guardsmen domestically are not uncommon.
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