MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday defended his decision to deploy the Wisconsin National Guard to help police in Madison and Milwaukee control protests over George Floyd’s death.
Evers, a Democrat, told reporters during a conference call that he deployed the Guard to protect property in Madison, including the state Capitol building, and utilities in Milwaukee. If the troops actively intervened, they did so at the direction of local authorities, he said.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day after police in Minneapolis arrested him for allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store.