Military chief: Troops were issued bayonets in DC unrest

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Sarah Blake Morgan and James Laporta, Associated Press
Updated 4:38 pm CDT, Thursday, July 2, 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has confirmed a report by The Associated Press that some of the service members who were mobilized to Washington, D.C., last month in response to civil unrest over the killing of George Floyd were issued bayonets. Defense documents obtained by the AP show some were not trained in riot response.

Members of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, which is based in D.C. and typically guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, were mobilized last month to respond to massive protests over the treatment of Black Americans and systemic issues of police brutality. But the troops were never actually sent to the protests after they arrived.

The soldiers were issued bayonets for their June 2 deployment — but told they were to remain in their scabbards and not attached to their service rifles, Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark A. Milley wrote to two U.S. representatives in a letter that was obtained by the AP. The soldiers were also told no weapons were to enter the capital without clear orders and only after nonlethal options were first reviewed, he said.

Milley said the order to mobilize the troops came from Army Maj. Gen. Omar Jones, who serves as commander of the military district of Washington. Milley's letter, dated June 26, was sent to Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Rep. Ted Lieu of California, who demanded an explanation after the AP first reported on the use of bayonets on June 2.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/AP-EXCLUSIVE-Soldiers-were-issued-bayonets-for-15382990.php

[Voltaire2]

1. Make no mistake, they will kill us as needed to retain control.

This has been true for a long long time. Jackson State and Kent State were just a taste of what they are willing to do.

[louzke9]

17. Make No Mistake......

NO! Only if protesters themselves CONTRIBUTE to the violent confrontation. In both Kent State and Jacksonville, the actions of protesters over the days PRIOR IS what led to these killings. These were not PEACEFUL protests. Protesters at Kent State were impeding firefighters trying to put out fires the protesters started. They were throwing rocks and tear gas canisters at the National Guard, evening chasing after the guard trapping them against a fence. There were violent protests in Jacksonville leading up to the shooting of two students for SEVERAL days. Students were throwing rocks at cars, setting cars and buildings on fire. Harassing firefighters, rioting. Violence begets violence. To this day, members of the National Guard who fired on students at Kent State say they felt their lives were in danger. The Guard apologized but still maintains they FELT justified. We have a right to peacefully protest. Those who take things farther than that endanger the rest of us. So yes, authorities will kill if necessary to REGAIN control, but not against us but against the US causing RIOTING, ARSON and VIOLENCE against others. So don't overlook nor DISMISS what was going on that led to Kent State or Jacksonville. Innocent people got caught up in the confrontation between rioters and the national guard and got killed.

[paleotn]

2. A bayonet charge!!

Right out of Gettysburg! That'll teach 'em.

Oh, my dear god.

[maxsolomon]

3. Standard practice since the Paris Commune

Also use of cannon filled with grape shot.

NBD!

[Hoyt]

4. Don't like military being called. But I did not see any with bayonets affixed.

Not sure any soldiers were actually assigned to the streets. But that doesn’t absolve trump from blame.

[gab13by13]

5. Meh,

the Air Force could have used daisy cutters. Don't laugh.

[TomSlick]

6. Holy shit!

The ONLY purpose of the bayonet is to kill. It is not a subtle weapon.

[link:|

[bluedigger]

7. I'm shocked anyone would find this shocking.

You don't think they are sending out unarmed troops on the street to sing Kumbaya, do you? It would be irresponsible for their leadership to put them in harm's way without the means to defend themselves. That's Trump's job.

[TomSlick]

10. Troops would not be in serious "harms way" facing a bunch of civilians armed with protest signs.

At their worst, there was nothing done in any of the protests to justify gutting civilians like pigs in an abattoir.

With the possible exception of MPs, soldiers are not trained in crowd control. Most soldiers have not touched a bayonet since basic training. Issuing bayonets in such conditions would be irresponsible.

[MartyTheGreek]

8. The only time to fix bayonets is when you are overwhelmed or run out of ammo!

Hello! The only time to fix bayonets is when you are overwhelmed or run out of ammo!

[TreasonousBastard]

9. When I was in, bayonets were taught as close order weapons, and we had tons of fun...

slashing huge sandbags while screaming "To KIIILLL".

Except for things like sneaking up behind guards and slitting their throats, bayonets seem to have little use in modern warfare. Bayonet charges just don't happen any more.

SO WHY THE FUCK WERE BAYONETS ISSUED TO TROOPS KEEPING ORDER ON THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON DC?

[onetexan]

13. i'm surprised the military still has use for bayonets - archaic

[MicaelS]

20. Got to have some sort of knife.

For general use.

[Steelrolled]

11. Much ado about nothing

[robleb]

12. agreed

[louzke9]

16. It helps to read....

the story. Gen. Omar Jones, in command of DC., orders units from Fort Bragg to transport to DC. and that they be armed with bayonets. They were never DEPLOYED to the streets, ordered to keep those weapons scabbard AND to only be used after all other means of nonlethal force had been exhausted. This sounds like a FUBAR exercise in futility! Which I conclude must have come directly from our Idiot in Chief!. I can imagine Trump telling (YELLING!) Gen. Jones he wants bayonets!

[Steelrolled]

18. I did read the article to check what it actually said

which is why I said it is be much ado about nothing.

But saying I didn't read it, when you had no idea, might get you a job for the Houston Chronicle

[lark]

14. Ha, this proves what I have always said, they will just follow orders, regardless of how illegal.

They didn't refuse to carry bayonets confronting PEACEFUL demonstrators, they won't refuse to kill us either if he so orders and there's any frustration or yelling from the people.

[BlueIdaho]

19. Anyone shocked by this must not have lived through the 60s.

A quick google search of images will show plenty of photos of troops deployed with fixed bayonets.