Military Checkpoints in Newport, Kentucky

WeAreChange Ohio traveled to Newport, Kentucky to investigate the military checkpoints that appeared around the downtown area on September 6, 2009. Officially, this was done for traffic control purposes during the annual Riverfest celebration that is held on both sides of the Ohio River.

Military Police from the U.S. Army National Guard performed a series of tasks throughout the day, which included aiding the local police to close bridges across the river, and to reverse traffic along Monmouth Street in Newport.

Two Military Police officers were located at each corner of Monmouth from the Ohio River to 11th Street, while two Humvees were strategically placed to block traffic onto the Taylor-Southgate Bridge. One of the National Guard members indicated that there were also Marines in the area.

WeAreChange Ohio spoke with a thirty-year veteran of the Newport Police Department, who wished to remain anonymous. He stated that the local municipalities were desperately strapped for funds and that the city had been cutting back his division at the department.

While he welcomed the help from the National Guard, he recognized that funding was being systematically shifted away from local governments in favor of Washington.

A Question of Propriety

The soldiers from the National Guard were willing to talk to WeAreChange Ohio, and were very down-to-earth. They could fit into any suburban family setting. Their all-American demeanor made some of their statements even more chilling.

When asked if they would confiscate guns, shoot resisters in the back of the head, or throw people into ovens to incinerate bodies, the officers said that they were on duty to help the local police. Not once did they state "no."

Sam Logulo of WeAreChange Ohio felt that the soldiers did not belong in this type of situation. "Police traditionally work with the citizenry," said Logulo. "The military, their job is to kill and destroy."

wearechangeohio.com...

I was under the impression that the military could only support police under martial law. Or at least is how I interpret the "Posse Comitatus Act"...

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction, with the intention (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services (today the Army, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service) from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.

The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. The Coast Guard is exempt from the Act during peacetime.

en.wikipedia.org...

Strange that they were needed to police a "festival"....

A sign of things to come?

[edit on 22-9-2009 by warrenb]

Not the sign of things to come.

They were being used as "traffic cops", nothing more.

reply to post by warrenb


The way I understand the Posse Comitatus Act, it only applies to federalized military. So if the POTUS federalized a national guard group, they couldn't be used for state law enforcement, but a state governor calling up their own national guard to aid in actions such as traffic directions, aiding in disaster relief, etc. is not illegal or improper.

As always, great find Warrenb.

Do you have a date for the video? I will take a look when a get a minute, but if you know offhand, that'd be great.

It is technically, as far as I understand it, not legal for any branch of the military except the National Guard and Coast Guard to mobilize nationally. However, it did get slight mention in the media not too long ago that a unit was going to be mobilized.

Of course, it was slotted in the ten minutes between jon & Kate and Birtney, so Im sure most out there missed it.

reply to post by warrenb


Did that aricle really say that thes NATIONAL GUARD soldiers look as if they could belong in any suburban family?

Someone should tell that genius that they probably do belong to some suburban family as they are NATIONAL GUARD and for 28 days a month are regular civilians.

The first guy they talked to couldn't even put together a decent uniform, his SGT should be punished for allowing his soldier out like that and the second was so out of shape its a shame. The dude even looked like Carl from Slingblade.

The mission of the National Guard is to assist state and local governments as required. The overall commander of the Kentucky National Guard, is in actuality the Governor of Kentucky.

The two-star generals who command the National Guard the states and territories report to the governors, not the Defense Department. All but two adjutants general are appointed by state governors [they are elected in Vermont and South Carolina]. The Adjutants General are not required to meet military service or education requirements of active duty generals, and governors can appoint junior officers as Adjutant General.

The Guard has a unique dual mission, with both Federal and State responsibilities. During peacetime, the Governor through the State Adjutant General commands Guard forces. The Governor can call the Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought, and civil disturbances, to name a few. In addition, the President of the United States can activate the National Guard to participate in Federal missions. Examples of this are the many Guard units that have deployed to support operations in Bosnia. When federalized, Guard units are commanded by the Commander in Chief of the theatre in which they are operating.

www.globalsecurity.org...

That was the most idiotic and leading question that I have ever heard when they were asked if they were going to confiscate guns, etc. Any answer they made would have been twisted into what the person asking the question wanted it to say.

reply to post by elevatedone


I disagree.

Given that the mayor of Cincinnati is wanting to layoff 100 police officers (the pay of which just happens to coincide with the projected operation cost of the trolley system he wants built), then I would think it would become more commonplace in the future to have Ohio National Guardsmen assist with policing/traffic control of major celebrations such as Oktoberfest and the WEBN Fireworks.

Provided of course the mayor gets his trolley and the coincidental operation budget price tag means those 100 police offices are kept "laid off".

Warrenb, I know I am very off topic...but whatever happened to that mid September thing?

Originally posted by elevatedone
Not the sign of things to come.

They were being used as "traffic cops", nothing more.

They weren't even being used as traffic cops. They were being used as road guards.

I live near Newport. I could go check things out in the next few days.

Not a sign of things to come but a sign of the typical spin and lies we get from groups like WeAreChange. They transform something innocuous into something sinister to push their agenda. Members of ATS should be wary of such groups.

It is not odd for National Guard troops to be used for such purposes, at least in Kentucky, when attendance of a public event could overwhelm the abilities of the local police department. The National Guard is often deployed for the same reason at the Thunder Over Louisville annual event.

Originally posted by DoomsdayRex
Not a sign of things to come but a sign of the typical spin and lies we get from groups like WeAreChange. They transform something innocuous into something sinister to push their agenda. Members of ATS should be wary of such groups.

It is not odd for National Guard troops to be used for such purposes, at least in Kentucky, when attendance of a public event could overwhelm the abilities of the local police department. The National Guard is often deployed for the same reason at the Thunder Over Louisville annual event.

You are either missing or chosing to overlook the underlying threat. Go back and do some research on Nazi germany, or any imperialistic regime, for that matter.

One of the more important aspects of creating such a society is to have a nationalized police force.

Why do you think There has been a transformation from "Peace Officers" to "Law Enforcement Agents"?

When was the last time you saw "To Protect and Serve" on a cop car?

They are no longer there to protect the innocent, they are there to prevent crime.

reply to post by warrenb


The Riverfest event is an annual fireworks show over the Ohio River enjoyed by both Ohio and Kentucky. The street closures happen every year. With dwindling budgets we are seeing more and more federal troops being used in place of local police for events of this magnitude. Its a huge event with hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Street Closings

Over a quarter of a million people will make their way to the Cincinnati Riverfront this year to enjoy several entertainment venues, including the City’s annual Riverfest celebration which will include the spectacular Cincinnati Bell/WEBN Fireworks. The Fireworks show will take place on Sunday, September 6th at approximately 9:00 PM.

Riverfest Event to Honor Wounded Troops

Here in So Cal.. on average only 3 out of every 100 applicants got hired by the local PDs. Almost anyone can be a military MP... the two are far from equal.

MPs are not "sworn" officers, many are too young to qualify for civilian police jobs... there is a reason local PDs don't give 18-19 year olds police powers, guns and legal authority to use deadly force; liability.

I'd like to see an MP try to write a civilian a traffic citation, or take enforcement action.. they can't exercise state police powers unless martial law is in effect, or.. they can be empowered as "state troops" serving under specific orders from the governor, but can only serve law enforcement support duties... and usually only during an emergency.

Which makes the MPs purpose as "traffic controllers" a farce... more like armed like traffic cones. LAPD uses teenage explorer scouts to direct traffic in ghetto-tastic hollywood, these kids are surrounded by crack heads and various other street urchins, and this sleepy town needs armed MPs?

I could see just ignoring them like you would mall security, they cant detain, chase or pull you over.

It's like Halloween for the MP kids, they get to dress up and play traffic cop while the Fed gov gets the unwashed masses used to the idea of seeing troops in the streets.

reply to post by jd140


semantics.... road guards, traffic cops, doing the same job.
Keeping people from using certain roads during an event.

Still, nothing to see here.

reply to post by warrenb

Kingman AZ Friday 18th 2009

Posse Comitatus is a prohibition against federal troops being used in the states. However, this does not apply to National Guard units acting under the orders of the governor of the state, as per your wikipedia link.

Not that any of that matters.

The National Gaurd were used for traffic flow at the PopCorn fest here in Valporaiso, IN. Nothing special about this at all.

I don't see anything about checkpoints in the links listed. I'm assuming the title chosen for the thread was to draw viewers, rather than be factual?

reply to post by elevatedone


Yes, it is a sign of things to come. Since when is the military police supposed to patrol civilian streets and enforce any laws?

Seriously when people start claiming "this is normal" they are obviously not understanding what is going on. You are being brainwashed into believing "this is normal" and then soon enough we will have military police, and our own military enforce civilian laws, that is unless we are under Martial Law.

[edit on 23-9-2009 by ElectricUniverse]