As I write the Trump administration has sent secret police to occupy Portland, OR and Seattle, WA (my home for 32 years). I say secret police because after the episode where he used active duty military to clear the street for him to go across to a church and do a photo opp, the military has pushed back on supporting Trump for purely political reasons or against US citizens. Finding the military not willing he has basically deputized men allowed to carry guns in other departments who do not actually have police powers or the constitutional right to apprehend citizens. One is BORTAC, essentially the SWAT team of the border control. Federal Protective Service Agents of Custom and Border Control have been sent as well - there normal job is security for Federal buildings. They have no authority outside of Federal Buildings, but as seen on tv they have rental vans in which they have dragged away apprehended protesters without identifying themselves as agents, reading Miranda rights or telling those detained where they are taking them.
All of this violates the 4th amendment and people's right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. The Trump administration has claimed "rioting" is the reason to need to do this, however, none of the Mayors have asked him to come and some have strenuously asked him not to come. He is operating off his own agenda. Albuquerque has not even had protests for several weeks so it is clear that it is really their Mayor speaking out against him that has led to their targeting. All of the cities invaded by his secret police are blue cities. Trump knows that he is sinking in the polls and as things currently stand unlikely to win re-election. However, portraying the country as full of riots and unrest positions him to be the force of stability. This tactic has worked in the past to draw centerists towards a President in times of chaos.
There are certainly media images of people fighting back against police and scenes with tear gas and chaotic running around. These images do not distinguish who is creating the chaos. Nor do they take into account the white supremacist groups who come and do some behavior to provoke the police so the police will attack the protesters. Both Portland and Seattle city councils and mayors have a certain level of tolerance for protest within their cities - a common and time honored tradition in their cities. But the Feds have acted to intrude and overturn the careful balance the cities have achieved with their own protestors. The Feds placed in injunction against Seattle city council's directive to the Seattle police not to tear gas their protesters. Yesterday I was horrified to see a picture of one of the Mom's from the wall of Mom's in PDX with a dozen bruises the size of a saucer from the rubber bullets that had been reigned on her when she simply stood in a line with arms linked with other Moms.
At bottom we must contend with the fact that US cities are being treated like occupied zones in war. That our tax payer dollars are being used to tear gas, pepper spray, and shoot US citizens with rubber bullets who are peacefully demonstrating. When armed right wing "militia" occupied Federal wild preserve in OR Trump did nothing. But when peaceful protesters come out to protest police brutality in OR which which has been well documented - he has used this as an excuse to invade these cities.
So it would seem that what is at stake is our democracy. If these protests are used as Trumps excuse to occupy cities that disagree with him, used as an excuse to declare martial law and "postphone" an election, to occupy cities most likely to rise up if he will not accept the election results then we are indeed at risk of losing our democracy. In the past year he has clearly established that he holds himself above the law. Once the Republicans protected him in the impeachment trials he felt clear that he could do as he wished without being held to law. He acted to fire or attack all of the whistleblowers that had acted against him and each of the 5 cronies who were sentenced for illegal acts to protect him, he pardoned. People are fired in his White House any time he disagrees with someone or needs a fall guy - loyalty to him is the only criteria for retention. Throughout his administration he has attacked and undermined a free press. He repeats lies even after the media has proven the statements lies. All of these actions are classic moves of dictators as they consolidate their power.
On a melting planet we have no time for resources to be used solely to pet the ego of a man in dementia. We need the democratic process to arrive at solutions together to address the climate crisis. We have no more time for climate denial and people who hold office to line their pocket and lie about the truth in order to maintain their power. So it becomes imperative to act in protection of our democracy.
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