(Illustration: Ren Velez / POGO)
Press Release
Invoking the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis Would Be a Dangerous Abuse of Power
Congress and the court must put limits on this dangerous, unjustified course
Washington, D.C. — In response to President Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis, David Janovsky, Acting Director of The Constitution Project at Project on Government Oversight (POGO), issued the following statement:
“The Insurrection Act should only be invoked in the most extreme circumstances. That is not what’s happening here. Protests are not rebellions; they are a protected constitutional right.
“Deploying the military on American soil is a drastic measure. It won’t make Minnesotans safer — in fact, it could endanger lives. Invoking the Insurrection Act would be a clear abuse of power, meant to quash dissent rather than protect people.
“The Constitution remains in full effect. Regardless of what happens, people still have their rights, and both law enforcement and military personnel must uphold those rights. Congress and the courts must use the full extent of their powers to prevent this brazen abuse of power by the president.”
