400 National Guard troops have been activated in the nation’s capital to guard monuments and infrastructure amid protests over racial injustice and some demonstrators" attempts to pull down statues.

“The District of Columbia National Guard has sent unarmed troops to guard monuments and other infrastructure in support of local law enforcement agencies”, - said Washington, D.C. National Guard spokesperson Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Craig Clapper.

He added that not all of the troops would be on the street at the same time, and Army spokesperson Col. Sunset Belinsky noted that none of the soldiers had been sent yet to the monuments to support the National Park Police: “They remain on standby at the National Guard Armory”.