Georgia organizations call for the Georgia National Guard to come home

For more than a year, members of the Georgia National Guard have been deployed to Washington, D.C. as part of an extended domestic law enforcement mission. Over the summer, as the federal government increased the number of National Guard personnel in the District, Georgia had more Guard members participating in the mission than any other state.

Georgia Guard members have since been involved in activities ranging from patrols in historically Black and brown neighborhoods with federal agencies to election interference during D.C.’s June primary election. These activities raise important questions about Georgia’s continued participation in the mission, the use of our National Guard in civilian policing, and the precedent being established around elections.

Organizations and faith communities across Georgia have sent letters to Governor Brian Kemp and the candidates for governor calling for accountability and making the following requests:

1. End Georgia’s participation in the D.C. deployment and bring the remaining Georgia National Guard members home.

2. Provide accountability and transparency about the mission, activities, legal authority, and operational directives governing Georgia Guard members deployed to Washington, D.C.

3. Protect Georgia’s emergency preparedness by ensuring the state’s National Guard remains available to respond to hurricanes, severe weather, and other emergencies at home.

4. Oppose the use of Georgia National Guard members for domestic policing.

5. Oppose the normalization of an armed military presence around elections, including the use of National Guard members at or around polling locations, ballot drop boxes, and other election infrastructure.

View the letter to Governor Brian Kemp

View the letter to Keisha Lance Bottoms

View the letter to Rick Jackson

Signatories

Organizations

The Chamberlain Network

Common Defense

Elected Officials

Georgia State Senator RaShaun Kemp, District 38

Georgia State Representative Karen Lupton, District 83

Georgia State Representative Ruwa Romman, District 97

Faith Leaders and Institutions

Adams-Smith Tabernacle

Big Bethel AME Church

Duresville AME Church

Gray Chapel AME Church

Inglewood AME Church

Macon South District AME Church

Murphy3ministries, LLC

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

The New Greater Allen-Temple AME Church

Sixth Episcopal District AME Church

Join the signatories

Georgia-based businesses, unions, faith communities, advocacy organizations, community groups, and other allies are invited to affirm these requests and add their names as signatories.

Although the letters have already been delivered, sign-ons remain open. New signatories will be added to the public letters as we continue calling for accountability and an end to Georgia’s participation in the D.C. deployment.