SC National Guard to arrive in DC ‘within the next 24 hours’

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Troops from the South Carolina National Guard will be arriving at the nation’s capital within the next 24 hours.

POLL | Do you approve of SC sending National Guard to DC?

The South Carolina National Guard said Monday that nearly 200 guardsmen are heading to Washington, D.C. to " support federal law enforcement activities under President Donald J. Trump’s executive order to Restore Law and Order in the District of Columbia."

Gov. Henry McMaster said he approved the deployment Saturday following a request from the Pentagon.

In a release on Monday, the South Carolina National Guard said the troopers being deployed are from the 4-118th Combined Arms Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Javier Yudice. The South Carolina contingent will also be the first non-D.C. National Guard component to arrive in the city.

Both the guard and McMaster have said the deployment will not impact the former’s ability to provide necessary support to South Carolina in the event of an in-state emergency.

“The South Carolina National Guard has a strong, established history of collaboration with state and federal law enforcement partners,” Maj. Gen. Robin B. Stilwell, the Adjutant General of South Carolina, said in a statement. “Our community ties, combined with the discipline and training of our service members, uniquely position the South Carolina National Guard to integrate effectively with law enforcement during this mission.”

The deployment has since been met with criticism from state Democrats, who called the move “dangerous and irresponsible.”

A poll conducted by WIS found that out of 3,210 respondents, 68.6% did not agree with McMaster’s decision, while 31.4% did.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.