Jason Robertson, a noncommissioned officer in the California National Guard, was activated in early April to help support food bank operations after demand surged. The National Guard has deep experience in working with government agencies in emergencies such as hurricanes, but rarely has had to coordinate with private health-care officials, said a soldier in the North Carolina National Guard with knowledge of the operation. Federal police, backed by D.C. National Guardsmen, fired pepper balls and rubber pellets at protesters in Lafayette Square outside the White House. Hours later, a pair of D.C. Army Guard helicopters descended as low as 45 feet over demonstrators in an apparent effort to disperse them, prompting a backlash and an investigation by the D.C. Guard. A video of D.C. National Guardsman Khaled Abdelghany went viral after he joined a chant during a protest while in military uniform on May 30.

Source: Washington Post December 24, 2020 13:52 UTC