(October 22, 2025 – Washington, D.C.) The National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) strongly condemns the deployment of the National Guard into cities across the United States. What we are witnessing is not a response rooted in community safety. It is a dangerous show of force that deepens fear and mistrust in communities already over-policed and underserved.
The use of militarized state power in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods echoes the long history of systemic racism in this country. This growing use of intimidation tactics against civilians is part of a broader assault on civil rights and liberties — including the ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom, voting rights, and the right to protest.
“In my hometown of Memphis, the presence of the U.S. Marshals, Tennessee State Troopers, and now the National Guard have been overwhelming and, for some, terrifying,” said Deidre Malone, President of the NWPC. “This isn’t about keeping people safe. It’s about federal and state control over local governments. What’s happening here is part of the same coordinated effort we’re seeing nationwide to strip away rights and silence voices.”
The NWPC stands firmly against any government action that threatens the safety, freedom, or dignity of the people it serves. From the streets of Memphis to statehouses across the nation, women and marginalized communities are being forced to fight for their most basic rights — to live freely, make decisions about their own bodies, and participate in democracy without fear.
NWPC calls on elected leaders at every level to reject authoritarian tactics, demilitarize our communities, and recommit to policies that center justice, equality, and human rights.
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The National Women’s Political Caucus, founded in 1971, is the oldest national, multi-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to identifying, recruiting, training, electing, and supporting pro-choice women candidates for elected and appointed office.
