A U.S. Army veteran went viral after she spoke out to encourage other current and former military members to publicly condemn President Donald Trump for using them as "pawns" to suit his own ends after he deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against his administration's immigration raids.
Trump has activated over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, despite opposition from city and state leaders. He has painted a bleak picture of Los Angeles—claims that Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom say are wildly exaggerated.
Both leaders argue that Trump is endangering public safety by deploying military personnel unnecessarily, pointing out that local law enforcement has not requested additional support. In fact, Newsom has made clear he believes Trump is using the military as a pretext for a wider authoritarian takeover.
Amid all this, one former U.S. Army intelligence officer, identified as Carmen Colado, is speaking out, making clear that she believes Trump is openly violating the U.S. Consitution to suit his own ends:
“We are not pawns for Donald Trump’s agenda. Why now? It’s because the military was called upon against the protesters."
"In our oath to serve, we serve the people of the United States, the Constitution. These constitutional rights are being stripped and just denied."
“And the military will not be pawns to that. That’s why I’m calling on the conscience of military members who served previously and now. We have a conscience, we have a mind and we have a duty, a moral obligation to say no and resist.”
You can hear what she said in the video below.
@btnewsroom After Trump deployed Marines to LA, this military member joined an anti-ICE protest in Dallas, declaring, 'We won’t be pawns in stripping away constitutional rights.’
Many praised her for speaking out.
MAGA wasn't too pleased and swiftly criticized and dismissed Colado with their usual lack of respect.
According to a report from The Guardian, California National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles have privately expressed frustration over the assignment. Many have told friends and family they are deeply unhappy and fear their presence serves no real purpose beyond being used as "pawns in a political battle" they have no desire to be part of.
Three advocacy organizations representing military families reported hearing from dozens of service members who expressed discomfort over being pulled into a domestic policing operation outside their usual scope of duties. According to the groups, they have not received any feedback offering a different perspective.