Governor Jeff Landry has received assurances from President Trump that the federal government will pay for the deployment of troops to New Orleans. Landry says he’s been told by the President that they will be in Louisiana in two weeks to help local law enforcement keep the city safe.
“When you talk to people that come to visit the Quarter, to enjoy the Quarter in the downtown area, they appreciate the secure presence. Why? Because of the tragedy that happened here a year ago,” Landry said
Landry made the comments following an event commemorating the victims killed on Bourbon Street during the January 1st terrorist attack.
In September, Landry sent a request to the Trump Administration seeking the assistance of 1,000 National Guardsmen that would be deployed to New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport.
Guard deployments to other cities in the U.S. have drawn criticism from Democratic politicians and others who say they are not needed and it only increases tension. But Landry says the Guardsmen are not there to harm people, they are added security.
“I tell people the National Guard are our neighbors, they’re our sons, they’re our daughters, they’re our cousins, they’re our friends. They’re citizen soldiers that are called upon, when in times of need,” Landry explained.
Landry says the National Guard troops will operate daily in New Orleans and other citizens where violent crime is causing people to feel unsafe.
“There are those out there that want to wreak havoc, that seem to not want to follow our laws that keep our community safe, and we want to take them off of our streets and we want to protect the innocent lives that are here,” Landry noted.
