Author Description

Updated 08/25/2021: Militia, National Guard, and federal armed forces have occasionally operated within the District of Columbia to respond to violence or anticipated violence. Based on a search of historical newspaper accounts, books, and other sources, CRS has identified 10 such instances prior to 2020: 1. 1814 – War of 1812; 2. 1857 – Know-Nothing Riots; 3. 1861-1865 – Civil War; 4. 1917 – World War I Homeland Defense; 5. 1919 – Washington D.C. Race Riots; 6. 1932 – Bonus Marchers; 7. 1967 – Vietnam War Dissent Demonstration; 8. 1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Riots; 9. 1971 – May Day Protests; and 10. 2001 – Post 9/11 Homeland Defense Activities. The set of events covered in this report does not include certain uses, such as natural disaster response, counterdrug operations, Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team operations, general crowd and traffic control support, most inaugural support, and ceremonial events. Congressional Research Service R46886.