Operation Themis: US gov response to 2020 protests (National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA)
| Tracking # |
J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008, FA-20-0002, FP-20-022092, FA-20-0005, F20-0132 J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008, FA-20-0002, FP-20-022092, FA-20-0005 J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008, FA-20-0002, FP-20-022092 J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008, FA-20-0002 J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008 J-20-0117, FA-20-0012 J-20-0117 |
| Multi Request | Operation Themis: US gov response to 2020 protests |
| Submitted | June 2, 2020 |
| Est. Completion | July 6, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Christopher Bing
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Seeking documents, memos, emails, powerpoint presentations and other notes that contain the phrase or discuss "Operation Themis," a name used internally in government to describe the federal response to 2020 domestic protests. Themis was an overarching term used between Defense Department agencies and the executives branch, among others, to discuss how the government was coordinating a mission to quell/control/calm domestic unrest following the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, an African American who died in police custody in Minneapolis. This FOIA is specifically requesting materials about the US government's coordination, enforcement and implementation efforts, which included the wide deployment of national guard units across the country in major urban areas. At the time, the National Guard was activated across roughly half of the U.S. The guard was deployed in numerous states, including Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin (as well as the District of Columbia).
The term/codename/title would have been used at the executive level of agencies in communications with colleagues across government. It is vital the public understand how its military was deployed in 2020 amid nationwide protests.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Christopher Bing
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Good morning,
Please see the attached regarding FOIA request J-20-0117.
V/R
SSgt Jerido
FOIA Specialist
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
See attached.
Very Respectfully
M J Lanni
Florida Army National Guard
G6 Administrative Services Supervisor
FLNG FOIA Officer
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your FOIA request dated June 2, 2020 for a copy of any documents, memos, emails, power point presentations and other notes that contain the phrase or discuss "Operation Themis." A portion of your request was referred to our office from National Guard Bureau. Your request was received in our office on June 18, 2020 and assigned case number F20-0132.
Normal processing times are between 10-20 business days. Please be aware there may be unavoidable delays in response due to COVID-19. However, we will make every effort to provide responsive records as soon as possible.
All communications concerning this request should be identified with the above reference number and addressed to the email address shown above.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at this email address.
Sincerely,
Sarah E. Alexander
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office of the General Counsel
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218
Austin, TX 78763
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Please find the attached response to your FOIA Request.
v/r
CW4 Janet L. Blain
FOIA and PA Manager
Ohio Army National Guard
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
ALL:
Please see attached this office's acknowledgment of receipt of your Freedom of Information Act request.
Very Respectfully,
JAMES SNYDER
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Washington Army National Guard
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
(253) 512-8353
If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please delete it and
notify the sender. If this email is marked FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) or
contains Attorney Work Product or Attorney/Client Privileged communications,
it may be exempt from mandatory disclosure under the FOIA, DoD 5400.7R, DoD
Freedom of Information Act Program; DoD Directive 5230.9, Clearance of DoD
Information for Public Release; and DoD Instruction 5230.29, Security and
Policy Review of DoD Information for Public Release.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Attached is the acknowledgment letter from the Wisconsin National Guard FOIA office. Please feel free to reach out to our office if you have any additional questions.
v/r,
A. Jordan Marcellino
CPT, FOIA/Privacy Act Manager
JFHQ WIARNG
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr.Bing,
Attached is the FOIA memo, for your request Utah received from NGB, for your records. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Carrie E. Alefi
Chief of Admin Svcs
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Attached is the closeout memo for your request. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Carrie E. Alefi
Chief of Admin Svcs
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
ALL:
Our organization was unable to locate any records responsive to your request. Please see attached.
Very Respectfully,
JAMES SNYDER
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Washington Army National Guard
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
(253) 512-8353
If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please delete it and
notify the sender. If this email is marked FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) or
contains Attorney Work Product or Attorney/Client Privileged communications,
it may be exempt from mandatory disclosure under the FOIA, DoD 5400.7R, DoD
Freedom of Information Act Program; DoD Directive 5230.9, Clearance of DoD
Information for Public Release; and DoD Instruction 5230.29, Security and
Policy Review of DoD Information for Public Release.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
Mr. Bing-
Please find attached the acknowledgement of your FOIA request and the
Indiana National Guard's Response.
Respectfully,
Ken L. Morris
1LT, QM
J6 Admin Services Branch Chief
JFHQ, Bldg. 3, Rm 1602
Office 317-247-3300 x73125
kenneth.l.morris.mil@mail.mil
D Co. (-) MI 776th BEB
Executive Officer
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Please see the attached regarding your FOIA request for the WIARNG.
Respectfully,
A. Jordan Marcellino
Chaplain
105th Cavalry Regiment
cell: 608-373-4789
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Please see the attached memorandum regarding your recent FOIA request.
V/r,
SGT Victoria A. McCormick
Office of General Counsel, MIARNG
JAG Paralegal/State FOIA Manager
Joint Force Headquarters
(517) 481-8100
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 2, 2020. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on July 6, 2020. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #J-20-0117, FA-20-0012, FA-20-0008, FA-20-0002, FP-20-022092, FA-20-0005.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Christopher Bing
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 94242
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
Via Email: requests@muckrock.com
Mr. Bing,
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act request dated June 2, 2020 for a copy of any documents, memos, emails, power point presentations and other notes that contain the phrase or discuss "Operation Themis." A portion of your request was referred to our office from National Guard Bureau. Your request was received in our office on June 18, 2020 and assigned case number F20-0132.
A search by our Records Department failed to locate any documents that would be responsive to your request.
This concludes the processing of your request.
For any further assistance and to discuss any aspect of your request, you have the right to contact the Army FOIA Public Liaison Officer, Ms. Alecia Bolling, by e-mail at usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa-ahs.mbx.rmda-foia-public-liaison@mail.mil or by phone at (703) 428-6462. If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to appeal to the Secretary of the Army by writing to Office of Information and Privacy (NGB/JA-OIP), 111 South George Mason Drive, AH2 Suite 319B, Arlington, VA 22204-1373, or by e-mail, NGB.FOIA@mail.mil. Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of this response. Your appeal should include copies of your original request and this response, as well as a discussion of the reasons supporting your appeal.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at this email address or (512) 782-5443.
Very Respectfully,
Sarah E. Alexander
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Open Records
Texas Military Department
Office of the General Counsel
Office: 512.782.5443
Fax: 512.782.6988
P.O. Box 5218
Austin, TX 78763
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
A no responsive documents response.
-
No Responsive Documents
From: Christopher Bing
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Christopher Bing
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
A no responsive documents response.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Christopher Bing,
Please see attached.
V/R,
Mary Dixon
Mary L. Dixon
Chief, Administrative Services Branch
Illinois Army National Guard
W 217.761.1746
C 217.473.9720
mary.l.dixon.mil@mail.mil
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
With Original Request.
V/R,
Mary Dixon
Mary L. Dixon
Chief, Administrative Services Branch
Illinois Army National Guard
W 217.761.1746
C 217.473.9720
mary.l.dixon.mil@mail.mil
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Christopher Bing,
Please see attached response to your FOIA Request.
V/R,
Mary Dixon
Mary L. Dixon
Chief, Administrative Services Branch
Illinois Army National Guard
W 217.761.1746
C 217.473.9720
mary.l.dixon.mil@mail.mil<mailto:mary.l.dixon.mil@mail.mil>
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Mr. Bing,
Please see the attached FOIA reponse.
Very Respectfully,
SGT Conrad Ippolito
J.D. Candidate 2020
720-250-1032
conrad.a.ippolito.mil@mail.mil
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
A no responsive documents response.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
Good morning Mr. Bing,
As my office continues to work on FOIA request, we came across a request has been logged in our system, however we do not have any e-mail traffic or written correspondence of this request. The individual that logged in your request does not work with us anymore and we are trying to track down documentation and clarification of this request.
The original request was for the following:
"Request of information on "Operation Themis" and request of information on how government coordinated mission to quell/control/calm domestic unrest and the deployment of NG troops within the state of Arizona".
My questions are as follows:
Do you still want to pursue this FOIA request? If you do, can you provide a copy of your initial request, written or electronic, as we need this for our records.
If you do not need this information anymore, please let us know so that we can close out this request.
If you have any other questions, please let us know.
Respectfully,
SFC Ismael Becerra
AZ ARNG, G-6
Administrative Services Supervisor
ismael.becerraramirez.mil@army.mil
Commercial: 602-267-2035
DSN: 312-853-2035
Fax: 602 267-2385
This email (may) contain Privacy Act and PII data, protect accordingly.
NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is intended for the sole use of the named addressees/recipients to whom it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552 and the Privacy Act, U.S.C.552a. Addresses/recipients are not to disseminate this communication to individuals other than those who have an official need to know. If you received this communication in error, please do not examine, review, print, copy, forward, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Please immediately notify the sender and delete the copy received.
From: National Guard Bureau/JA-FOIA
UNCLASSIFIED
Good morning Mr. Bing,
I have not seen a reply regarding your request. Can you please let me know as soon as possible?
Thank you and have a good day.
Respectfully,
SFC Ismael Becerra
AZ ARNG, G-6
Administrative Services Supervisor
ismael.becerraramirez.mil@army.mil
Commercial: 602-267-2035
DSN: 312-853-2035
Fax: 602 267-2385
This email (may) contain Privacy Act and PII data, protect accordingly.
NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is intended for the sole use of the named addressees/recipients to whom it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552 and the Privacy Act, U.S.C.552a. Addresses/recipients are not to disseminate this communication to individuals other than those who have an official need to know. If you received this communication in error, please do not examine, review, print, copy, forward, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Please immediately notify the sender and delete the copy received.