The National Guard will assist law enforcement if any unrest should occur following the grand jury decision of whether or not to charge police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown. On Monday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a State of Emergency in Missouri. He signed an executive order saying, “the Guard will provide support for law enforcement’s objectives of maintaining safety and protecting constitutional rights.”

The order also says the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will operate as a unified command. The St. Louis County Police Department will have command and operational control over security in the city of Ferguson in areas of protests and acts of civil disobedience, should such activities occur.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay responded to the order telling Fox2 St. Louis that he agrees with Governor Nixon’s decision. He explained that National Guard members will be secondary to local law enforcement. The goal he says is to make sure people feel safe and that protesters can express their First Amendment rights