Ohio sends 150 National Guard troops to D.C., Lorain County protest responds to federal takeover of Washington

In the coming days, Ohio will send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to add to the presence of law enforcement in the nation's capital at the direction of President Donald Trump. Gov. Mike DeWine confirmed the decision Saturday evening in a statement. "We have been asked by the Secretary of the Army to send 150 military police from the Ohio National Guard to support the District of Columbia National Guard," DeWine stated in a press release. "These Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security." DeWine said Saturday that the 150 law enforcement members were expected to arrive in Washington "in the coming days." Representatives with the Ohio National Guard did not immediately respond to a request for an interview or comment. DeWine's decision follows the Trump administration's actions of expanding federal authority over the city of Washington, D.C. Trump's actions have received backlash by some residents of Lorain County, resulting in a protest in Elyria on Saturday morning. "Yesterday's protest was part of the nationwide movement 'Fight the Trump Takeover,'" Nichole Geibel, an organizer of the protest, wrote in a message Sunday. Geibel said Saturday's protest, as well as others that have been organized since the start of Donald Trump's second presidential term, was to direct the community's attention toward acts they believe are "authoritarian." "(T)he current regime in D.C. is pushing America toward authoritarianism," Geibel wrote in a message Sunday. "The Constitution and Bill of Rights say this is a country run by the people, for the people — not by rich, greedy men protecting their own power." According to Geibel, approximately 250 individuals attended the protest in downtown Elyria. Their focus, Geibel said, was on local elected officials' "complicity" toward Trump's actions, including DeWine and U.S. Congressman Bob Latta, a Republican who represents Lorain County. "We chalked the sidewalks with messages to remind him and all of Ohio's politicians that we see their complicity in Trump's takeover." Geibel said. "Most recently DeWine deploying Ohio National Guard to D.C. to assist with an illegal takeover of our Country's Capitol." The protesters in Elyria were not alone Saturday. Their grievance was shared by hundreds who marched toward the White House that afternoon in a show of disapproval. Similar to signs held in the air by protesters in Elyria, signs in Washington could be seen stating "TRUMP MUST GO NOW." Ohio joins two other states that have pledged support to send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. — West Virginia and South Carolina. In a social media post Saturday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey stated that the decision followed a request from the Trump administration. "At the request of the Trump administration, I have directed the West Virginia National Guard to support the President's initiative to make D.C. safe and beautiful," Morrisey stated. "We are deploying 300-400 skilled personnel to the nation's capital, reflecting our commitment to a strong and secure America." South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, also in a statement on social media Saturday, said that he was authorizing the deployment of 200 South Carolina National Guardsmen "to support President Trump in his mission to restore law and order to our nation's capital." "The federal government will pay for this deployment under Title 32. Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump's mission, and should a hurricane or natural disaster threaten our state, they can and will be immediately recalled home to respond," McMaster stated. While Gov. DeWine has directed 150 National Guard personnel to the nation's capital, he said none of them will be taken from active-duty positions in departments across Ohio. "None of these military police members are currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio," DeWine stated. Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com