A leaked memo at the Pentagon ordering the National Guard from every state to each train 500 service members for rapid deployment, to repel alleged civil unrest, brought the immediate condemnation of several top New Jersey African American leaders.

By way of context, from The Hill:

The National Guard is building a “quick reaction force” (QRF) of some 23,500 troops trained in crowd control and civil disturbance that can be ready to deploy to U.S. cities by early next year, according to a leaked memo reported by multiple outlets Wednesday.

The Oct. 8 memo, signed by National Guard Bureau Director of Operations Maj. Gen. Ronald Burkett, orders the Guard from nearly every U.S. state, Puerto Rico and Guam to train 500 service members. States with smaller populations such as Delaware will have 250 troops in its force, while Alaska will have 350 and Guam will have 100, Task & Purpose reported.

“This move underscores the administration’s white nationalist agenda," said the Rev. Pastor Charles Boyer of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Trenton and founder of Salvation and Social Justice. "When data shows white nationalists are the leading perpetrators of domestic terrorism, we now have one in the White House weaponizing government power to terrorize nonwhite communities.”

Larry Hamm, founder and chair of the People's Organization for Progress (POP), likewise denounced the plan in strong terms, and called upon New Jersey's political leaders to move to counteract the Trump Administration.

"The quick reaction force being assembled and trained by the Defense Department is yet another step in Trump’s plan to establish a fascist apartheid type regime in the United States," said Hamm. "This is outrageous. It is illegal and must be a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. This must be stopped. I call on the congressional delegation from New Jersey to hold hearings, launch a formal investigation, and take whatever steps are necessary to stop it.

"I call on Gov Murphy and the members of the state legislature to speak out against this and to take action," Hamm added. "The governor should convene some type of leadership summit of elected and non-elected leaders from all walks of life to come up with a plan on how we are going to stop Trump from implementing his plan in the nation and in New Jersey. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill as a member of the military should address this issue. It is clear that for Trump political dictatorship is not enough. He wants to be a military dictator too.

"First he tells the generals they have a new mission to fight, the enemy within. Then he tells them to use the U.S. cities as a training ground for the military. Now, he is establishing a quick reaction force to suppress urban populations. The parallels to Nazi Germany are more than alarming. So, first Trump sets up his ICE 'Gestapo,' and now he organizes his military 'SS' storm troopers. Trump and his regime are drunk with power. They are a clear and present danger to the United States. He must be removed from office either by the ballot, impeachment, or other constitutional means. It is clear that all of this is aimed at impacting the outcome of upcoming elections. If Trump continues on his current trajectory, we may not have midterm congressional elections next year much less a presidential election. Americans need to take to the streets and use whatever means of dissent they have that are available to stop this racist and fascist juggernaut."

Added the Rev. Ronald Slaughter, pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark:

"Sadly, this decision by the current administration once again confirms how out of touch and cruel the administration is. The government shutdown has forced 42 million low-income Americans to contemplate how to feed their families due to the loss of SNAP benefits. Meanwhile, the administration is willing to spend money to impede the first amendment right of Americans to peaceably assemble. That’s precisely what this type of training will be geared towards. This move by the administration is intended to intimidate individuals and obstruct them from expressing their first amendment right especially in urban communities.”