Marines in Los Angeles (File Photo – picryl/ Joe Juarez)
In response to reports that 700 active-duty U.S. Marines are being withdrawn from Los Angeles County, Hilda L. Solis, the Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor for Los Angeles County, has issued a statement calling for the immediate defederalization of remaining California National Guard members.
By News Desk
Solis expressed her concerns over the militarized presence in local communities, especially amid peaceful protests and public demonstrations. She emphasized that these armed service members, trained for combat situations, should not be stationed among civilians, particularly during times of civil unrest.
“The withdrawal of the 700 active-duty Marines from Los Angeles County is long overdue. There is no place for a militarized presence in our communities, especially when residents are peacefully demonstrating and exercising their constitutional rights,” Solis stated. “These are armed service members trained for the battlefield, not for deployment among civilians.”
Solis further criticized the federal deployment of National Guard forces, urging that their services be redirected toward more urgent needs across the state. “I now call for the remaining California National Guard members to be defederalized. There are natural disasters across the State and nation, where their skills and service are urgently needed. That is where they belong,” she added.
The statement comes as the region continues to debate the role of military presence in local governance and public safety. Critics of military deployment in urban settings have raised concerns about the escalation of tensions between law enforcement and the public, particularly during protests advocating for social and racial justice.
The move to withdraw Marines has been welcomed by local community leaders, but Solis’ call for the National Guard’s defederalization signals further scrutiny on the continued military presence in civilian life. With natural disasters, such as wildfires and earthquakes, regularly impacting California, many argue that the National Guard’s expertise is better served in disaster response rather than domestic law enforcement duties.
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