Trump's Police Spectacle
And a thank you to Sly for reassuring a young girl
Trump wants a police state. Holding people, children, and families who were arrested without a warrant in the basement of Federal buildings, calling what is happening in LA an “insurrection,” posting on social, “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”
Trump is losing his ability to drive the narrative with lies. People will see through this. I think it will backfire.
California Govenor Gavin Newsom was informed that Trump had said he would arrest Newsom if he were the White House border czar Tom Homan, calling the prospect a "great thing." Newsom responded:
“What the hell is this guy? Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with. Tough guy. You know? I don’t give a damn, but I care about my community. I care about this community. The hell are they doing? These guys need to grow up, they need to stop, and we need to push back, and I’m sorry to be so clear, but—that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
Trump is deploying Marines today to LA after a night of small and peaceful protests. This is all show. All of this military posturing is costing the American public 134 million dollars.
Newsom further said, “U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country—defending democracy. They are not political pawns. The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend. It’s a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this. The courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling. This is a red line—and they’re crossing it. WAKE UP!”
Newsom has asked a court to block use of Marines in ICE raids. We are waiting for the judge’s response.
Peaceful protests have spread to other cities in solidarity with Los Angeles, including Austin; New York; Dallas, Boston; Chicago; Atlanta; Santa Fe, N.M.; Pittsburgh; Minneapolis; Las Vegas; and Tampa, Fla. These resulted in some skirmishes and arrests.
David Dayen of The American Prospect posted: “The correct way to connect the authoritarian presence in LA and the Big Beautiful Bill is that the bill gives the government the resources to do this in dozens of cities at once. So if you don't like what's happening in LA, it's coming to your town if the bill passes.”
What can be done? I don’t know. Last night, my husband and I watched CNN to try to better understand what was happening, and saw many members of the media in the mix of police and protestors (many of whom were filming). We learned things but it was uncomfortable to view, because I felt complicit in watching the spectacle. That’s what Trump wants. Is it working on his base, are they buying this nightmarish show of force, that is completely unecessary? Or will it backfire and Trump will lose the House in the midterms? Will there be midterms? In some ways, I fear he is creating conflict to then announce a suspension of elections. Far fetched thinking perhaps, but maybe now.
And then I fear this will reach an unpleasant climax on Saturday when Trump is throwing himself a birthday party with a display of a troops and tanks parade in Washington (also costing millions), and then all the protests planned for No Kings Day around the country. Will there be violence?
In 1968, then 1970, I was of a very impressionable age when we saw violence erupt around the country after the assasination of Martin Luther King, then the Kent State murders. It seemed the world was on fire. It feels like that now; I am experiencing flashbacks of the anxiety I felt as a thirteen-year-old in Washington DC. But now I am grown up (sort of) and I know that this time is worse.
In those years, Sly and The Family Stone released the song “Everyday People,” and I remember feeling reassured. So, in honor of Sly who left us just yesterday, and in his memory, here is the video of Sly and his band performing it on a very early television appearance. I loved his music. And I need to be reassured again.
Here are the lyrics:
Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in
[Chorus]
I am everyday people, yeah, yeah
[Verse 1]
There is a blue one who can't accept the green one
For living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby
[Refrain]
Ooh, sha-sha
We got to live together (Ooh, sha-sha)
[Verse 2]
I am no better and neither are you
We are the same, whatever we do
You love me, you hate me, you know me and then
You can't figure out the bag I'm in
[Chorus]
I am everyday people, yeah, yeah
Get tickets for your favorite artists
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[Verse 3]
There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair
For being such a rich one that will not help the poor one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby
[Refrain]
Ooh, sha-sha
We got to live together (Ooh, sha-sha)
[Verse 4]
There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one
That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby
[Chorus]
Ooh, sha-sha
I am everyday people (Ooh, sha-sha)
Thanks for being here, see you tomorrow!
It appears that Trump is try g to get democratic states and cities to fight against some federal officers, so he can declare a federal emergency and cancel voting for the next forever. His way of keeping the fascists in power. Hitler did it and Trump appears to follow Hitler and Putin rather than good American democratic steps.
What a wonderful post. Thank you.