Selma residents on differences between national guard deployment in 1965 vs. 2025
The last time a U.S. president defied the wishes of a governor and deployed federal troops was 1965, and it happened in Selma, Alabama.
Some people have drawn comparisons to what happened here then and what's happening in . But some people in Selma say the situations are very different.
Dr. Todd Allen is the founder of the Common Ground Project.
鈥淚 think anyone would deplore violence, looting, burning. But you also have to deplore the violence that is abusing people's opportunity to pursue justice and equality," Allen said.
The flames, smoke and unrest in the streets of L.A. have gotten a lot of attention. President Donald Trump said he sent in the National Guard to quell the violence. But some say the federal presence is what escalated the situation. Some people in Selma called the decision political and hypocritical, bringing up what happened at the Capitol on January 6.
鈥淚 think it's hypocritical because the president had the, power. The same president had the power and authority to call in the National Guard on January the 6th. Okay. And he did not. And that was an imminent threat," Resident Twanya Dixon said.
The troops on the Edmund Pettis Bridge six decades ago played a part in the fight for Civil Rights. But will history say the same about the troops in California? The president seems to think so. He posted on social media saying the troops have saved L.A. from being obliterated. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has also posted online, defending the move, saying terrorism and anarchy will not be tolerated.
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Dr. Allen added, 鈥淒r. King also reminded us that a riot, a disturbance, is the language of the unheard. And so, we've got to wake up and be honest with ourselves about what is it that we're not hearing, in this moment. And there's just got to be a better way to engage the process.鈥�