Active duty soldiers on standby for possible Minneapolis deployment
by Jessica Inman · UPIJan. 18 (UPI) -- Approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers are standing by for a potential Minneapolis deployment, multiple media outlets reported over the weekend.
The 11th Airborne Division troops, now stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, are poised to respond to protests in the city following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis Jan. 7.
Good was an activist who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent as she tried to leave the scene in her vehicle.
Her death, along with a surge of ICE agents, have sparked demonstrations in the city.
On Wednesday, an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man who tried fleeing amid a targeted traffic stop.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mobilized the National Guard Saturday in an effort to support local officials.
"Minnesota National Guardsmen live, work and serve in our state, and are focused on protecting life, preserving property and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights," officials said, per NPR.
President Donald Trump has not yet sent the troops to the city, and it is unclear when that decision will be made. He has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act.
Artemis II rocket rolls out to the launchpad in Florida
NASA's Space Launch System rocket emerges on Saturday morning from the Vehicle Assembly Building to start its journey to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo