MONTEVIDEO — Soldiers from the 1-151st Field Artillery Battalion headquartered in Montevideo are part of the 500 Minnesota National Guard troops activated by Gov. Tim Walz executive order 20-64 signed at 4 p.m. Thursday, according to a Minnesota National Guard news release.
The order activated multiple Minnesota National Guard units to “provide safety and protection to the people of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities.”
This comes on the heels of civil unrest in the region following the death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis Police officers around 8 p.m. Monday.
Former officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 3rd Degree murder and manslaughter, according to a press conference by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Thursday night, soldiers supported missions with the Minneapolis Fire Department and provided security around the St. Paul Capitol Complex while assisting the State Patrol with civil disturbance support, according to the Minnesota National Guard News release.
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“The National Guard will provide support to civil authorities as long as directed in order to ensure the safety of people and property,” read the release.
Thursday night saw the Minneapolis third precinct being overrun and set on fire, along with looting and multiple fires around the city.
“Soldiers and Airmen of the 34th Military Police Company in Stillwater, 257th Military Police Company in Monticello, 1-151st Field Artillery Battalionheadquartered in Montevideo, 147th Human Resources Company in Brooklyn Park, 224th Transportation Company in Faribault, and 133rd Airlift Wing were directed to immediately report for State Active Duty in-processing and information briefings,” said Task Force Commander Lt. Col. Troy Fink.
