Over 500 National Guard soldiers activated amid George Floyd protests

More than 500 Minnesota National Guard soldiers have been activated to help contain violent protests in the Twin Cities over George Floyd’s death.

The National Guard confirmed in a late Thursday tweet that the soldiers will respond to St. Paul, Minneapolis and surrounding communities.

“Our troops are trained to protect life, preserve property and ensure people’s right to peacefully demonstrate,” Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen said early Friday.

President Trump also tweeted that the guard was “fully prepared.”

“The National Guard has arrived on the scene. They are in Minneapolis and fully prepared. George Floyd will not have died in vain. Respect his memory!!!” Trump wrote late Friday morning.

Jensen will work with local government agencies to provide personnel, equipment and facilities needed to respond to and recover from the protests, which have left several buildings — including a police precinct set ablaze — heavily damaged, according to a press release obtained by KSTP.

Gov. Tim Walz activated the Guard through an executive order Thursday, marking the first time it was deployed for a civil disturbance in Minnesota since 2008, when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty requested 300 troops to control riots outside the Republican National Convention, according to the report.

The activation comes after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a state of emergency earlier Thursday, giving him more flexibility to respond to the escalating demonstrations, the station reported.

About 200 Minnesota State Patrol troopers will also be on hand over the next several days, the outlet reported.

The governor’s executive order also declares a peacetime emergency, which activates the State Emergency Operations Center, according to the report.

“It is time to rebuild,” Walz said in a news release obtained by the outlet. “Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system, and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they’re charged to protect. George Floyd’s death should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death and destruction. As George Floyd’s family has said, ‘Floyd would not want people to get hurt. He lived his life protecting people.’ Let’s come together to rebuild, remember, and seek justice for George Floyd.”