SEATTLE — Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell has a message for the Trump Administration when it comes to a potential deployment of the National Guard: “Stay out of Seattle!”
Harrell, alongside other city and state officials, emphasized that they have not received direct communication from the Trump administration regarding the deployment, but they are taking the threat seriously.
“To not mince words, we do not need the federal government bringing in armored vehicles, semi-automatic weapons, and military personnel to ‘make us safer.’ There is not an insurrection here,” Harrell stated.
This past weekend, Portland was on high alert that deployment of the National Guard may be imminent, which raised concerns in Seattle.
Washington State GOP Chair Jim Walsh said in a statement: “Historically, when local authorities fail to keep the peace and allow domestic terrorists to operate in plain sight, the federal government has stepped in. That’s happening right now in Portland. Seattle may not be far behind.”
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has declared that mobilizing the National Guard without proper justification is unlawful.
“There are legal requirements for the facts on the ground that need to exist to justify the mobilization of National Guard or certainly the use of the United States military troops,” Brown explained.
Mayor Harrell mentioned receiving a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi weeks ago demanding an end to Seattle’s sanctuary policy, but no further communication has been made.
Visitors in downtown Seattle expressed that federal resources could be better utilized elsewhere, with some citing other national emergencies that require attention.
Max Stern, a visitor from Montana, commented, “If cities want help from the federal government, they should get all the help they need, but if they don’t want to ask for help, maybe they shouldn’t get help.”
Lily Franck, visiting from Missouri, expressed that federal resources should be focused on genuine national emergencies rather than deploying the National Guard to cities like Seattle.
Harrell assured Seattle residents of unity and resilience, stating, “We are united here. We are friends. We share the same values here. You cannot tear this family apart. We will communicate with one another. We know the law here. We are strong. We are resilient.”
Harrell plans to issue an executive order to protect residents from federal overreach and improve coordination between local and federal agencies.
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