Trump sent Marines and the National Guard to California over the objection of National Guard's commander in chief, Governor Gavin Newsom—and this is just the beginning. Will you sign the petition to stop Trump's power grab?
Dear MoveOn member,
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump warned that he would use the military against "the enemy within"—a veiled threat to turn the federal military against the American people.1 This past weekend, he took a step toward that campaign promise, directing the National Guard to Los Angeles without the governor's permission. This kind of power grab is unprecedented and dangerous—and we need local governments to oppose it with every tool available to them.
This kind of militarized presence puts our communities at risk and is an unwarranted response to overwhelmingly peaceful protests. Trump has manufactured a crisis that has sowed confusion and raised the political temperature. Our federal government should be following the lead of state and local governments, not bulldozing over individual and state rights in order to silence dissent and exert control.
The right to protest is foundational—and Trump trying to shut down freedom of speech by intimidating everyday people and bypassing local governments is alarming. If it doesn't stop, these actions could spread to other states and cities that rise up against his authoritarian agenda.
Will you sign the petition urging governors and state officials to fight back against Trump's dangerous infringement on our rights?
Over the weekend, protests took place in support of the immigrant community in Los Angeles as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ramped up its inhumane raids, ripping families apart.
The National Guard blocked a nonviolent march in Boyle Heights, led by local group Centro CSO and featuring civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. Protesters were greeted with tear gas as they neared the local detention center downtown, many forced to retreat due to concerns about physical safety and military violence.2 Like in Boyle Heights, the majority of protests in L.A. have been peaceful, and the move to deploy federal troops has been critiqued as escalating situations.3
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom are suing President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth for violating the U.S. Constitution.4 This is the kind of political courage we need in the face of Trump's authoritarian power grabs. We need other state governors to commit to doing the same.
Add your name to the petition to encourage governors across the country to follow Governor Newsom's lead and push back against Trump's intimidation tactics, because dissent is patriotic. L.A. is ground zero for Trump to see what he can get away with when it comes to abusing the powers of the U.S. military. And make no mistake—this is the blueprint he will use for other cities and states across the country.
We have to make it clear: We won't stand by while Trump unilaterally turns the U.S. military against the American people. Not in L.A. Not anywhere.
Trump is attacking our rights because pushback against ICE has been working. We have power when we act together to protect our communities, and we need to preserve our right to fight back against Trump's dangerous policies.
Click here to urge governors to fight back against any attempts to deploy the U.S. military against peaceful protesters. Thanks for all you do.
–Aliya, Mia, Kelsey, Emma, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Trump suggests he'll use the military on 'the enemy from within' the U.S. if he's reelected," PBS News, October 13, 2024
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-suggests-hell-use-the-military-on-the-enemy-from-within-the-u-s-if-hes-reelected
2. "Boyle Heights protesters demonstrate peacefully, encounter tear gas outside detention center in downtown L.A.," Boyle Heights Beat, June 8, 2025
https://boyleheightsbeat.com/boyle-heights-peaceful-protest-los-angeles/
3. "'Authoritarian and un-American': celebrities outraged by Trump's response to LA Ice protests," The Guardian, June 10, 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jun/10/celebrities-la-ice-raids
4. "Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom Challenge Trump Order Seeking to Federalize California National Guard," Attorney General Bonta, June 9, 2025
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-governor-newsom-challenge-trump-order-seeking-federalize
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