From Kent State to Los Angeles, using armed forces to police civilians is a high-risk strategy
- Written by Brian VanDeMark, Professor of History, United States Naval Academy
Smoke and tear gas surround a protester in Los Angeles on June 7, 2025, amid confrontations between immigration rights advocates and law enforcement personnel.Taurat Hossain/Anadolu via Getty ImagesResponding to street protests in Los Angeles against federal immigration enforcement raids, President Donald Trump ordered 2,000 soldiers from the...









