Tennessee National Guard lays down their shields at protest

[RandySF]

Link to tweet

?s=20

Rebecca Cardenas
@RebeccaWSMV
In a powerful moment, The Tennessee National Guard lays down their shields at a protest that has made its way up the steps of the Tennessee Capitol

[KewlKat]

1. Wow

[sop]

2. Even the actual military behaves in a less militaristic manner than the police.

Trump better watch his step, our military might not be as subservient as the cops.

[Roc2020]

17. uh huh.

Trump needs to be very very careful at this point in time. very careful.

[DENVERPOPS]

43. should be:

"at this point in CRIME"..... lol

[JI7]

55. The Military has much more strict standards

Just look at how so many at the top have been critical of Trump .

This is different from the cops where it's all about protecting each other.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

3. K & R

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Way to go !!!

Do recall a certain General of a State National Guard say this,when we are or ever are Ordered to move against the Civilian Population,we are in trouble and we will pay the price down the road. We are here to protect our States People not arrest them or jail them.

[NCjack]

5. Tennessee NG, thank you for not breaking your covenant with the people.

[roamer65]

6. There you go. There's the fracture in the military I have hypothesized.

They know hurting civilians is a very bad idea. War crimes level bad.

[jorgevlorgan]

24. unlike cops, they will be charged to the full extent of the UCMJ

As I was reminded almost every day while I was in the National Guard.

[roamer65]

29. Very true.

As a civilian that did not dawn on me.

[dware]

50. Yep,

I was very cognizant of the UCMJ during my career in the Marines, the military doesn't fuck around with military lawbreakers.

[NellieStarbuck]

7. I am from Tennessee,

but left it years ago. All too often I hang my head in disgust at the news coming out of my old home state. This gives me hope, though. So happy that the Tennessee National Guard chooses not to brutalize its citizens.

[bottomofthehill]

8. May cooler heads carry the day

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

[rurallib]

9. I got to wonder who gave the order - can't imagine the guardsmen did it on their own.

[Tanuki]

11. There was no order. One of the organizers asked them and they responded.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213526916

.. "Activists and local church leaders held a peaceful protest at the state capitol Monday evening. 

The crowd sang songs like "This Little Light of Mine," held signs reading "Black Lives Matter," and chanted "no justice, no peace." 

... 
One of the organizers said, "We want to invite these law enforcement officers to lay down their swords and shields and join us." 

The troops did not join in on the songs or chants. But, the crowd erupted in cheers as some of the guardsmen laid down their shields, allowing the activists to continue to peacefully protest.".... 

[rurallib]

12. Thanks - that is amazing

I have to wonder if the guardsmen will face some discipline for laying down their shields.
What a great symbolic act.

[Ohioboy]

10. Yes!

I wonder what Dump, I mean Bunker Boy, would think of this picture.

[NNadir]

19. I love that locution, Bunker Boy.

Use it widely.

I never thought I would write this about an American President:

In many cases serious dictators have been brought down by ordering troops to fire on their people.

The most recent case, is the case of Nicolae Ceaușescu, who ordered the military to suppress the "revolt" - ended up trying to escape by military helicopter, whereupon, when the helicopter landed, he was arrested by the military. They held a fast sham trial and shot him and his wife.

This boy wants to go the full dictator route, and do so in a country with more than 2 centuries of experience in democracy. If he wants to be a dictator, he will face the personal risks of dictatorship.

I note Hitler died in a bunker, and Mussolini's body was hung up by his heels in a Milan square so people could spit on him.

[roamer65]

30. Don't make me get excited.

Last edited Tue Jun 2, 2020, 05:06 PM - Edit history (1)

[MyOwnPeace]

42. I do NOT want him killed......

all I want is to see him marched out of OUR White House in a 1-piece suit that matches the color of his face, then put into a police car (aw, OK, you don't have to be "too" careful about his head hitting the roof!), then put into jail for LIFE.

And, OH, what a "life" it would be!

[NNadir]

45. Neither do I. I'm merely stating that those who live by sword, die by it.

If he dies in office, we have the other loon to follow; nothing in it for the American people.

If he dies in prison of natural causes, I'm fine with that too.

However, if he asks American troops to fire on Americans, it is quite possible that he'll end up like Indira Ghandi, or Ceaucescu, killed by his own security forces. I'm not advocating it; I'm just saying it's possible.

[sprinkleeninow]

49. penniless with moths flying out of his empty pockets

whah-whah/so sad

[sprinkleeninow]

48. binky bunker boy with his blankie and nuknuk in hidey hole

[not_the_one]

60. The turd will DEMAND they be punished.

And more than likely the National Guard commanding officers will acquiesce, do as they're told.

[crickets]

13. When peaceful protest works, at least for a moment. The photo is amazing. nt

[Bayard]

14. Totally AWESOME!

[iluvtennis]

15. Fantastic! It's only the incompetent illegal occupant of the WH that can't understand non violent.

[sarge43]

16. Hand salute, Soldiers

Thank you.

[Dukkha]

18. The tide is turning

People are really sick of Orange Mussolini's racist dementia antics. He does not have the total unwavering support of military & police that he thinks he has.

[trof]

20. That makes me proud to have been a guardsman.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Now do the patches.

[dmr]

31. What's that?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

34. And the uniforms.

[Aristus]

22. It shouldn't be a surprise.

The military are trained to be protectors. For decades, police have been trained to see citizens as adversaries.

[Lucinda]

23. So good to see this! Pretty much all of the 55 & up Trump

voters that I know here in TN are still supporters, but there has been an exodus in the younger folks.

[cp]

25. Thank you.

[tblue37]

26. The examples of police & National Guard expressing solidarity with the protesters is

exactly what is needed.

They are showing how to do it, but far too many meatheads are too excited and eager to bust heads of peaceful protesters.

[canetoad]

54. Spot on

I've seen a few instances of police/troops kneeling with the protesters. More power to them.

But a simple act of humility and equality seems to escape Trump.

[calimary]

58. trump doesn't do humble.

Hasn’t the faintest idea what humble is.

[jorgevlorgan]

27. Those shields are heavy tho

[patphil]

28. It's scenes like this that reflect the true Spirit of America.

This is what it means to love your country.
This is what it means to be one people under God.

It's the perfect counterpoint to Trump's call for violent action.

[dmr]

33. Amen

[TNNurse]

32. This Tennessean is proud but surprised.

By the way, I live in Blount County. In the towns of Maryville and Alcoa there have been peaceful vigils and gatherings over the last few days. It has been encouraging.

[Corgigal]

35. Wonderful,

been worried about Kent State, part 2.

Trump would approve of it too. Lord, what would the country do then?

[randr]

36. This is how WE get through this mess

The symbols of our unrest need to lay down their weapons.

[onecent]

37. THANK YOU to the Tennessee National Guard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am from Missouri....but I am glad to see this!!!

[tnbadger]

38. true grace....

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home

[uponit7771]

39. K&R,

[Soph0571]

40. Wouldn't it be great if the fuckwit in chief would learn from this

Spoiler: he won't

[Sucha NastyWoman]

41. Blessed be the peacemakers

[denbot]

44. Duty, honor, country.

[Upthevibe]

46. Thank you for posting....

This is what I need to look at right now......

[aggiesal]

47. True Volunteers ...

The Tennessee Volunteers helped the Texans at the Alamo
The Tennessee National Guard Volunteered to help the protesters.

[niyad]

51. KNR. Maybe things go are not totally hopeless.

[cstanleytech]

52. Problem with using a states national guard is that they are citizens of said state to and that means

you risk things like this especially if its an issue that they agree with their fellow citizens about.
After all alot of people that join the national guard do not do so with the goal of shooting their fellow citizens rather they do it in the event that there is a disaster like a flood and they want to be able to help.

[SheltieLover]

53. Awesome!

[struggle4progress]

56. +!

[JudyM]

61. Really fine version with memory lane pix.

[Doreen]

57. Is protecting our country from foreign

AND DOMESTIC enemies finally sinking in?

[louzke9]

59. LET THIS SINK IN!

Some people are questioning who those mysterious soldiers were on the streets of our capital patrolling? They had no identifying markings on their uniforms. When asked about this, these soldiers claimed they worked for the Justice Department. Some are wondering now if these are actually members of Eric Prince's PRIVATE ARMY of hired MERCENARIES. The Justice Department has no army. This should be investigated. Imagine if our President actually hired private mercenaries to disperse lawful protesters. Is this a PREVIEW of what Trump is planning in the near future? He knows he could never use our military to overthrow this government. But Eric Prince would do it for money. His only loyalty lies in a green flag with dollar signs.