LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — As thousands of U.S. National Guard members and Marines deploy across Los Angeles, a growing number of service members are questioning their role in the mission. The GI Rights Hotline, a non-profit group that helps military personnel, says it is seeing a sharp rise in calls from concerned troops and their families.
The deployment follows recent unrest in downtown Los Angeles, where police enforced curfews after reports of looting and vandalism. While the city saw fewer reports of property damage in recent nights, tensions remain high as military presence increases.
Steve Woolford, a resource counselor who has worked with the GI Rights Hotline for 20 years, says the organization is fielding an unusual number of calls. The hotline typically receives about 200 calls per month, but Woolford alone took 50 calls this past Sunday.
“These are people who are struggling,” Woolford said. “One caller said they never thought they’d have to point a gun at a fellow U.S. citizen. They believed they were signing up to protect freedom, not silence it.”
Many callers are National Guard members now stationed in Los Angeles or preparing to deploy. Some say they fear being ordered to act against people in their communities.
“Some of these people are thinking, ‘This is my neighborhood,’” Woolford said. “They know the people who might be targeted by immigration enforcement or curfew violations. They’re torn between duty to country and loyalty to their families.”
A legal dispute over control of the National Guard adds to the confusion. California Governor Gavin Newsom is fighting to regain command of the Guard from the federal government. President Donald Trump’s administration ordered the troops to stay in Los Angeles despite a judge’s ruling to return them to state control.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked that decision. The court scheduled a hearing for June 17. California must respond to the federal appeal by June 15.
This legal back-and-forth has left some troops unsure of who is giving the orders.
“People are asking, ‘If I say no, what happens?’” Woolford said. “They want to follow the law, but they also want to do what’s right. We don’t tell them what to do. We help them understand their options.”
About 4,700 troops are now under the command of Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of Task Force 51. On Friday, Sherman confirmed that 200 U.S. Marines had arrived in Los Angeles. They will work alongside National Guard units to protect federal buildings and personnel.
The Marines completed training in civil disturbance tactics and began operations at noon Friday at the federal building in downtown Los Angeles.
“We’re here to support law enforcement and protect federal property,” Sherman said.
The Los Angeles Police Department continues to enforce a limited curfew in a one-square-mile area of downtown Los Angeles. The rest of the city, home to nearly 4 million people, remains under watch but without curfews.
LAPD reported 33 arrests for failure to disperse and 13 for curfew violations on Thursday night. That followed 71 arrests the previous night, and more than 200 earlier in the week. Most arrests stemmed from unlawful assembly or curfew violations.
Officers also faced violence. Police say people threw fireworks and other objects at them. Several officers suffered minor injuries. Additional arrests were made for resisting police, pointing a laser at a police helicopter, and a robbery warrant.
As military presence grows, both troops and civilians are navigating a complex situation. Service members on the ground are grappling with orders, values, and uncertainty.
Woolford says the GI Rights Hotline remains a neutral source for those trying to make sense of their roles.
“We’re here to listen,” he said. “Each case is different, and we try to help people figure out what’s best for them.”
