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LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued the following statement in response to President Trump's unlawful federalization of National Guard troops in California:
"President Trump has repeatedly fabricated national crises throughout this term in office as a pretext for acting with extraordinary emergency powers rightfully, and historically, reserved for true emergencies facing our country. The President has declared unfounded emergencies over our domestic energy supply, global trade deficits, both the Northern and Southern borders; all to command illegal authority and wield extreme domestic powers from the White House. In Los Angeles, the President is again manufacturing a national crisis to expand his command over Americans, and may be prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act.
"This is an affront to state sovereignty and domestic rule of law and should not be acceptable to the people of California or anywhere in America.
"To any Michiganders planning, coordinating, or encouraging protest activity to publicly denounce this abuse of power by the President, I urge you to demonstrate peacefully, and in accordance with the law. Get your permits, and make your statement where you are lawfully allowed to express yourself, where private businesses or institutions will not have you forcibly removed before you’ve made your point. Amplify our voices with the strength of your numbers and your message, not property damage and destruction of community resources others depend upon. And comply with police orders if confronted by members of law enforcement—violence against law enforcement officers and unlawful obstruction of their efforts put all involved in danger and destroy the purpose of peaceful protest.
"This administration will seek any open door to land federalized enforcement in our communities, as made clear in California. Peaceful protests can accomplish many great things, but when civil disobedience leads to property damage and violence, our voices cease to be heard. We cannot invite this overreaching federal administration into our towns where our neighbors may be already vulnerable. The Michigan Department of Attorney General stands ready to vigorously fight back against any illegal federalization of our National Guard or the unwarranted invitation of the military onto Michigan streets."
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