State Representative Eric Bell (D) recently issued a statement on the potential deployment of the National Guard in Georgia, warning Georgians about the possibility of manufactured division and the undermining of our democratic rights.
Naturally, this statement comes as a response to President Donald Trump’s (R) recent takeover of Washington, D.C. The President invoked the D.C Home Rule Act and deployed the National Guard to curtail violent crime in the city.
Vice President JD Vance (R) visited Peachtree City, Georgia, last week and hinted at the possibility of National Guard troops being deployed to the city of Atlanta. He stated that Georgians don’t have to live with crime, and there is a clear solution waiting to be used.
Bell has taken a strong stance on all of this by absolutely opposing the deployment of troops against fellow citizens. His statement begins, “I believe Georgia is standing at a crossroads regarding governance and the protection of individual rights.”
The statement continues with a reference to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his quote on men being tied to one single garment of destiny. To Bell, the deployment of the National Guard to police Atlanta would pose a risk to vulnerable communities and socioeconomic groups.
The statement then moves to include references to Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Department of Defense's Directive 2311.01E. The codes regard service members and their duty to obey lawful orders and disobey unlawful orders.
Based on these references, Bell states, “For these reasons, it is my position that turning American troops upon American citizens is a violation of both principle and law, and no service member should be compelled to participate.”
While all of this language seems quite measured, Bell has not maintained quite the same attitude on Facebook. On that platform, he called on the National Guard and other service members to resist such an order if it is issued.
Bell also derided the President with what one might call crude language. He stated, “For a lack of better words: We (are) at war with a foolish orange crusted oligarch crony dictator and those with (their) hand up his rear.”
