Can the U.S. Military Shoot Civilians Protesting Election Interference?, with Michael Baker
What if there is election meddling in November 2026 and large civil protests erupt? Can U.S. troops be used to intervene with force — or even shoot civilian demonstrators? Given the militarization of ICE agents and recent shootings involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, Texas, and elsewhere, the threat of violence looms large today.
Retired Rear Admiral Michael Baker will examine the legal boundaries governing the military’s role at home, including the 10th Amendment, the Insurrection Act, and the Posse Comitatus Act. He will also put those laws in historical context, from the military’s role in protecting civil rights marchers and responding to civil unrest to the controversial use of troops to break up the Bonus March on Washington in 1932 and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
About the Speaker
Dr. Michael Baker retired from a 40-year career in general, vascular and trauma surgery. He also retired from the U.S. Navy after 30 years in the uniform of his country with the rank of Rear Admiral, having earned numerous awards including a Combat Action Ribbon for duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and 3 Legion of Merit Awards.
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Event Details
- Friday, Oct. 23, 10:30–11:30 AM
- Free and open to all
- The event will be livestreamed and recorded
- The Zoom link will be included in the registration confirmation email, and in a reminder email sent before the event
- The video will be shared with registrants as soon as it's captioned — typically in about a week.