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Sheffield: Detroit Would Fight Back Against Trump Deployment of National Guard

September 18, 2025

Detroit City Council president and mayoral frontrunner Mary Sheffield stated she would actively oppose any Trump administration attempts to deploy National Guard troops in Detroit, emphasizing this would not address public safety concerns. Her comments came after Vice President J.D. Vance suggested sending National Guard to Detroit to combat crime, despite the city reporting significant crime reductions in recent years. Sheffield highlighted the traumatic history of National Guard deployment during the 1967 Detroit Riots and advocated instead for community violence intervention programs, youth programming, education, mental health, and housing investments.

Who is affected

  • Detroit residents and communities
  • Detroit city leadership and law enforcement
  • Black-led cities targeted by the Trump administration
  • Youth and communities that would benefit from violence intervention programs
  • Victims of crime in Detroit

What action is being taken

  • Mary Sheffield is vocally opposing potential National Guard deployment to Detroit
  • The Trump administration is targeting cities with Black mayors over crime perceptions
  • Current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is working with federal agencies like the DEA, ATF, and FBI to address crime
  • U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon has added more federal prosecutors to further reduce violence
  • The city is maintaining community violence intervention programs

Why it matters

  • The deployment of National Guard troops recalls traumatic historical events in Detroit, particularly the 1967 Riots where civilians were injured and killed
  • Despite Trump administration rhetoric, Detroit has experienced a 90% reduction in carjackings since 2013 and the lowest number of homicides since 1966
  • The situation represents a potential conflict between federal authority and local governance
  • Different approaches to public safety (military presence versus community investment) represent fundamentally different philosophies on addressing crime
  • The issue has become politically charged in the context of mayoral and other campaigns

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle