Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe Activates National Guard Amid State of Emergency Targeting Human Rights Protests

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has enacted Executive Order 25-25, mobilizing the National Guard alongside a multi-agency task force comprising the Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety. This action, described as a response to “civil unrest,” signifies the deployment of military resources prior to anticipated protests against practices like “Shut Down ICE” taking place this weekend in cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Columbia. Although no threats to citizens have been confirmed, the order permits pre-emptive measures against peaceful demonstrations, transforming community dissent into a national security issue. Resources earmarked for disaster relief instead bolster a militarized approach to civilian interaction. Missouri’s recent history of dissent illuminates how such heavy-handed tactics can foster deeper public outrage rather than quell it. Activists are employing innovative strategies to ensure safety and documentation, confirming the resolve to safeguard human rights remains robust, despite the looming military presence.