Missouri governor activates National Guard for Kansas City, St. Louis in “proactive state of emergency” ahead of future anti-ICE demonstrations

Office of the Governor

In an audacious act of political power, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has activated the Missouri National Guard in “anticipation” of protests planned across the state.

There is currently no widespread violence or disruptive actions being undertaken in any Missouri city—and no reported situations where local law enforcement, like the KCPD (with its yearly budget of $343 million) currently find themselves overwhelmed to the point of requiring assistance.

Kehoe signed an executive order earlier today, preemptively declaring a “state of emergency” and authorizing the Guard to support local law enforcement “if necessary”, along with the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and a newly established Unified Command Center to “monitor situations” on the ground.

Further details about this command center will be included in this story if or when official comments are released.

The Republican governor singled out Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and other “affected communities” in Missouri where events were “occurring” or “could occur” that create hazards for people and property beyond the resources of local officials. The official text of the governor’s executive order declares that a state of emergency “exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest,” even though his own public statements refer to this action as “precautionary.”

Again, this is a declaration of a state of emergency where there are no current instances of lawless activity or violent crime. This is an order providing a chilling threat as American citizens use their First Amendment rights to voice opposition to Stephen Miller’s nationwide push to hit new daily quotas for ICE arrests.

The executive order comes two days after a peaceful demonstration that saw more than a thousand Kansas Citians marching downtown in protest of ICE. There were events held in St. Louis as well. There is no evidence to support claims of future violence or planned destruction of property, nor has Kansas City or KCPD put out a request for additional policing resources.

Anger towards the sweeping ICE raids across the United States have not been limited to left-leaning activists. Kennett, Missouri (which elected Trump by a margin of 5 to 1) recently made national headlines for their despair and protest over the arrest of a local waitress, churchgoer, and “soccer mom.”

This weekend, a large crowd is expected at Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza. Indivisible, one of several progressive organization hosting the events, has promoted three other Kansas City-area demonstrations, spanning both Jackson and Johnson counties. The rally times are set to coincide with the military parade happening June 14 in Washington D.C.—Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day. Trump has long sought a military parade in his honor, stretching back to requests made during his first term in office, and this weekend’s $45 million spectacle has drawn the ire of other Republican elected representatives.

[Missouri’s own Josh Hawley has confirmed that he will not be in attendance for that event, offering no explanation other than his official statement: “Oh, I love parades.”]

House Minority Leader Ashley Aune voiced her concerns about the threat to democracy presented by declaring an imagined future violent uprising in cities that do not share Kehoe’s values:

“Governor Kehoe’s preemptive declaration of a state of emergency as Missourians prepare to protest an increasingly authoritarian presidential administration is a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress First Amendment rights. The protests planned this weekend across Missouri and throughout the nation were sparked by the president’s unwarranted and heavy-handed military response to opposition to his policies. By doing the same, the governor will only heighten tensions and increase the possibility of conflict. Governor Kehoe should staunchly defend the rights of Missourians, not mimic the authoritarianism of the president.”

“We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protect, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” Kehoe says in his executive order. “While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities.”

Kehoe declared the state of emergency days before he is expected to travel to France on a trade mission, per his official calendar. At press time, his office has not responded questions about whether he would still make the trip—in light of the declared state of emergency apparently threatening all the state’s urban centers.

Rep. Mark Alford took to X to reiterate support for Kehoe, posting: “We support the first amendment right of every Missourian to peacefully demonstrate, but violence and riots will NOT be tolerated in the Show Me State.”

There are currently no reports of violence or riots in the Kansas City area.

Mayor Quinton Lucas released a press statement of his own, referencing the recent Neo-Nazi marches in KC that saw no arrests.

“Mayor Lucas is concerned with enhanced state enforcement for one set of protestors, but no action or aid to local law enforcement when Neo-Nazis march through Missouri’s urban streets.

The Mayor has confidence in responsible protestors to use their First Amendment rights peacefully and in compliance with the law. More than one thousand Kansas Citians protested peacefully and responsibly just days ago.

For those who do not act responsibly, the Mayor stands by the women and men of local law enforcement at KCPD and other agencies to handle any necessary enforcement actions. Unnecessary escalation from our nation’s capital and state capitals undermines local law enforcement and makes all less safe.”

Kehoe, an outspoken advocate of Trump and his policies, follows in the footsteps of orders from the White House this weekend which activated the National Guard and authroized Marines to enter Los Angeles, despite calls from the Mayor of LA, Governor of California, and even the LAPD Chief of Police insisting that such action was not only unwarranted, but actively threatening to heighten tensions and endangering lives.

This marks the first time in 60 years that a U.S. president activated a state’s National Guard without a request from its governor.

The same night as he deployed the military to enforce “law and order” amid anti-ICE protests in LA, Trump appeared ringside at a UFC event in New Jersey.

The ACLU of Missouri issued the following statement on Kehoe’s order:

“Governor Kehoe’s decision to activate Missouri’s National Guard serves as an unnecessary provocation to thwart public dissent. The right for people to join in protests or peaceful assembly is core to the First Amendment, and critical to a functioning democracy. Government and law enforcement officials have the moral and constitutional responsibility to stop the escalation, practice restraint, and allow Missourians to exercise this foundational right.”

The May 16, 2025 tornado that struck St. Louis—killing five and displacing thousands—was met with calls from Governor Kehoe and elected leaders for emergency FEMA funding. Trump’s approval of official acknowledgment for the emergency event with a death toll and an estimated billion dollars in property damage was only approved on Tuesday of this week—nearly a month later. Federal support for Missouri’s emergencies seems starkly divided when property destruction and loss of life are placed on the back burner while preemptive militarization ahead of political demonstrations sees full support. Critics have said this shows how the Trump administration is more concerned with disrupting families to hit deportation goals than supporting families devastated by destruction from natural disasters.

Saturday’s protests are set to continue. A statement from Indivisible says the following:

Indivisible Kansas City plans to exercise our First Amendment right peaceably to assemble this Saturday, June 14, at the No Kings Rally on the Country Club Plaza. 

Yesterday, US Senator from California, Alex Padilla, was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angles, forced to the ground, and handcuffed by multiple officers. 

In May 2025 US Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was charged with assaulting and interfering with federal law enforcement officers during a peaceful protest outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. 

The current ruling party of the United States government demonstrably plans to punish those whom President Trump, his Cabinet, and allied politicians deem unwilling to yield to their unlawful activities.

The power of the people is stronger than the people in power. On Saturday, June 14, thousands of our Missouri friends and neighbors will peacefully demonstrate their opposition to the current unconstitutional actions taken by President Trump and Governor Kehoe.

There is no state of emergency. This is the First Amendment in action. 

A core principle behind all No Kings events remains a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events. 

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated with further information as it becomes available.