INDIANAPOLIS — Following two nights of violence in downtown Indianapolis, Governor Eric Holcomb has ordered the Indiana National Guard to establish a presence in the city to protect from further damage.
“At my order, the Indiana National Guard stands ready to assist local communities in need to protect the public and property, and I am deploying Guard members to protect state property beginning today,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Organized protests have taken place across the state without incident but the events that have followed, particularly in Indianapolis, have devastated businesses, defaced public monuments that are centuries old, and resulted in loss of life.”
The governor's order follows Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett's executive order imposing an 8 p.m. curfew in the city for Sunday evening. The curfew begins at 8 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. Monday morning. Under the curfew, all residents are ordered to stay inside their homes unless they meet a special set of guidelines for necessary travel.
READ | Indy governor imposes 8 p.m. curfew following violent weekend
According to a press release issued by Gov. Holcomb's office Sunday afternoon, the governor:
- Signed Executive Order 20-29 to lift restrictions on local declarations of emergency that had been instituted as a part of the stay at home and back on track orders pertaining to COVID-19. This order, effective as of 11 a.m. today, allows local governments to place more stringent travel restrictions than the state has in place. A link to the order may be found at HERE.
- Directed members of the Indiana National Guard to be on standby to assist communities across the state, if requested. Gov. Holcomb verbally activated the Indiana National Guard Reactionary Force company to be available to assist local communities Saturday, however no deployment was requested. Several hundred Guard members remain on standby.
- Ordered members of the Guard, supported by Indiana State Police, to establish a presence at state properties in Indianapolis to protect them from further damage.
