Indeed, this absence of lethal force proved typical: The only fatality caused by active-duty #soldiers during this 12-yr period occurred during the 1967 #Detroit riots. The low number of deaths is at least partly why, except for the 101st Airborne’s deployment to #LittleRock, most Americans barely remember these earlier #domestic #military interventions. Even in moments of widespread turbulence, the active-duty military exercised restraint overall.

The 12 years spanning 1957 to 1968 were a period of great societal tumult & revolution, especially over #race & the #VietnamWar. Of the 8 deployments, 2 were to enforce #desegregation court orders, most famously at #LittleRock, #Arkansas, in 1957. 4 were to quell riots, 3 of which were part of the numerous outbreaks across the country that followed the #assassination of #MartinLutherKingJr in 1968.

The #InsurrectionAct & related laws were used during the #CivilRights era to PROTECT ACTIVISTS & students desegregating schools. President Dwight Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to #LittleRock, #Arkansas, to protect Black students integrating Central High School after that state’s governor activated the #NationalGuard to keep the students out.