TRENTON — New Jersey's 85 National Guard troops dispatched to Washington, D.C., to help guard national monuments amid protests over the death of George Floyd will return home this weekend, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday.

New Jersey was one of a handful of states that authorized National Guard members to go to the nation's capital earlier this week as protests continued to sweep across the district. The Democratic governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware declined requests to send their troops.

Murphy said their deployment was always planned to be short term. The troops will return Saturday.

The troops were from the 508th Military Police Company based in Teaneck, according to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Pictures of the Week Photo Gallery-Global
A National Guard solider and a demonstrator stare at each other as protests continue over the death of George Floyd near the White House in Washington on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
loading...
APTOPIX America Protests Washington
A Utah National Guard solider fist-bumps with a demonstrator as protests over the death of George Floyd continue, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, near the White House in Washington. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
loading...

They were dispatched to Washington on Monday, officials said, just ahead of President Donald Trump's walk from the White House to a historical Episcopal church nearby following the forceful clearing of protesters crowding the square between the two buildings.

Murphy said New Jersey's troops were not involved in clearing protesters, but were guarding monuments.

Floyd, a black man, died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers are charged with aiding and abetting. All have been fired.

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

More From 92.7 WOBM News:

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

READ MORE: 6 ways the whole family can play together at home

More From 92.7 WOBM