A coalition of good government groups and pro-democracy advocacy organizations have called on Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green to recall his National Guard troops from Washington, D.C. after they were deployed to the nation’s capital earlier this month to provide support for the country’s 250th anniversary of independence celebration. 

The coalition, which includes local groups such as Common Cause Hawaii and national organizations, including the Brennan Center for Justice, said in a letter they were “surprised and disappointed” in Green’s decision to add to the massive military presence already in the district as part of President Donald Trump’s declared crackdown on crime in the city.

Thousands of armed and uniformed National Guard troops, mostly from Republican-controlled states, have been patrolling the district’s streets for nearly a year. When the initiative began, violent crime in the district was at a 30-year low, and the deployment was heavily criticized by local residents and politicians. 

Even though Hawaiʻi’s troops were initially assigned to help with security for the “Freedom 250” festivities, the letter to Green said the “potential for misuse in that role is unacceptably high.” The letter to Green described the show of military force to police civilians as “unprecedented, dangerous, and unlawful,” and pointed to the fact that Hawaiʻi itself has joined litigation in federal court arguing that such deployments are illegal. 

Green is not the only Democratic governor facing pressure from outside groups for deploying troops to Washington. Last week, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz decided to pull his troops early from the district after they were seen patrolling in neighborhoods far away from the festivities. 

At this point, it is unclear whether the 27 troops from Hawaiʻi have been participating in neighborhood patrols. A spokesperson from the state National Guard has yet to respond to a request for comment from Civil Beat. 

According to the coalition letter to Green, Hawaiʻi’s troops reportedly arrived after many of the major events during the July 4 weekend had taken place.

“The Hawaii National Guard exists to protect the people of Hawaii — not to police Americans in their own neighborhoods,” Camron Hurt, state director for Common Cause Hawaii, said in a press release. “By allowing Hawaii’s troops to be used to intimidate and harass the people of Washington, D.C., Governor Green is setting a dangerous precedent. Common Cause’s members from across the state are demanding Governor Green bring our troops home immediately.”

The letter follows similar demands from the ACLU of Hawaiʻi and other local progressive groups, such as Indivisible Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights. Those organizations began urging Green last week to bring Hawaiʻi’s guard troops home so that they could focus on local needs instead.

“As we approach hurricane season, our National Guard members must remain here at home and be available for its core purposes: disaster relief and other local emergencies,” their letter said. “Our Guard members have been called on this past year to support storm recovery, fight wildfires, and remain ready to assist in other state emergencies. Committing our Guard to an open-ended mission thousands of miles away would greatly undermine that readiness.” 

Sergio Alcubilla, the community engagement director at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, told Civil Beat that Green’s office acknowledged receipt of the letter, but did not provide a response. 

Green declined an interview request about this week’s letter and directed questions to his office’s communications team to “decide how to engage.” 

“I have two bill signing sessions today, huge energy work to do… and btw a campaign,” he said in a text message. “So I can’t do quick asks on volatile issues.”