It was recently reported by several news media outlets that all 50 U.S. states will be required to establish what is being referred to as a “rapid-response force” or “quick-reaction force,” which will supposedly be trained to handle nationwide civil unrest. The news of these plans was first reported by Task & Purpose, a website described as a “U.S. news and culture website that reports on the military, defense industry, and veteran community from a rank-and-file perspective.”
Task & Purpose stated that the plans were revealed in a leaked memo it obtained. “The National Guard is developing a ‘quick reaction force’ of troops trained in crowd control and civil disturbance that can be ready to deploy to U.S. cities by January, according to a leaked memo viewed by Task & Purpose,” wrote Patty Neiberg in an Oct. 29 article on taskandpurpose.com.
“All 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam will have their own quick reaction force, or QRF. The National Guard Bureau memos show that most states will have 500 troops assigned to these units, except for those with smaller populations like Delaware, which will have 250 troops in its QRF, Alaska with 350, and Guam with 100 troops. The Washington, D.C. National Guard is directed to maintain a ‘specialized’ military police battalion with 50 National Guard soldiers on active duty orders.”
A National Guard spokesperson under the condition of anonymity reportedly told Task & Purpose that the bureau is coordinating with the Secretary of Defense, all U.S. states, territories, and D.C., “in planning that will implement the direction” President Donald Trump laid out in an Aug. 25 Executive Order, Neiberg writes.
The Aug. 25 order being referred to builds upon an earlier Executive Order No. 14333, signed by the president on Aug. 11. Both came on the heels of the administration ordering the deployment of National Guard Troops to Washington, D.C., under the guise of tackling “crime, violence and disorder.” In the Aug. 25 order, it states in part: “The Secretary of Defense shall immediately begin ensuring that each State’s Army National Guard and Air National Guard are resourced, trained, organized, and available to assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety and order whenever the circumstances necessitate, as appropriate under law.”
As frustration and anger grow among the American people toward their government and politicians, among the rich and the poor, and between Black and White, the question is: could the U.S. be headed toward so much dissatisfaction that it spills into the streets of cities around the country? Leaders normally do not plan to “resource,” “train,” or “organize” troops unless there are plans to utilize them.
The history of the U.S., a so-called “God-fearing Christian” country, is littered with examples showing that presidents, governors, and even mayors will not hesitate to dispatch and deploy troops as a method to maintain “law and order,” particularly in Black communities.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam, warns in His book, “Message To The Blackman In America,” on page 125, “The so-called American Negroes have and still suffer under such brutish treatment from the American Christian white race, who call themselves followers of Jesus and his God.”
Since his second term in office, the current president has not hesitated to boast about America’s military might, not just to threaten or intimidate countries abroad, but also to do the same within his own country. Personnel from federal agencies such as ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), and the National Guard have been dispatched to America’s cities. Now, with reports about the possible deployment of National Guard Quick Reaction Forces, will more cities continue to be under siege, joining Chicago, Memphis, Los Angeles, and Portland that have had federal troops’ presence in their streets?
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been and is a watchman on the wall for Black people and for humanity. He warned us that a time would come when, if we did not unite and do for ourselves, we would suffer the consequences. He cautioned that the proliferation of weapons on America’s streets and political divisions would lead to a dangerous time for the country and could lead to bloodshed. And most critically, he has implored us to settle our differences with one another.
If we fail to do this, he also warned that bloodshed would not be handled solely by the police.
“Civil unrest in the future will not be able to be handled by the police. The police will be supported by the National Guard and the National Guard will be supported by federal troops. When this day arrives, and it will, the breakdown of law and order will be so great in America that it will be as the prophets foretold, ‘a time of trouble such as never was, since there was a nation even to that same time,’” Minister Farrakhan said in an article originally published in Volume 13, Number 23, August 31, 1994 of The Final Call.
“Blood, as John the Revelator saw, ‘will be running in the streets even up to the horse’s bridle.’ This is a terrible prophecy, and it does not appear that it will be avoided or averted,” Minister Farrakhan continued.
However, when Allah (God) raises a warner among the people, He also gives that warner wisdom, guidance, and solutions, if the people choose to accept and obey the directives given. The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan have warned us and shown us the way to unite and do for self. Minister Farrakhan issued a clarion call for us to make our neighborhoods safe and decent places to live and resolve our disputes so our enemy cannot use our conflicts with one another as an excuse to send in federal troops to slaughter our people, particularly our Black youth. There is still time for us to work together in our communities to resolve our differences, support one another, and build community.
“Let us set an example for those who are caught up in civil strife. Let us resolve never to let Satan whisper into our hearts from among the jinn and the men, causing us, as it was in the past, to shed the blood of the righteous,” Minister Farrakhan continued in his 1994 message.
“This is a warning to all who disagree with me and us: Do not let your disagreement and your hatred of my acceptance by the people and our increased popularity and success in accomplishing our goals and objectives for our people lead you to think in terms of doing physical harm to one another. May Allah (God) bless us to help to end the civil strife among our people that we may become examples of peace in the midst of a world being destroyed through war,” he warned.
Let us open our hearts and minds, move out on these divine directives and save our lives.