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By C.J. Atkins
Was he declaring martial law, or was he not? The vagueness of Trump’s “law and order” speech Monday night was calculated to give the appearance of getting tough against those protesting the murder of George Floyd and the systemic racism ingrained in U.S. policing, but he left out precise details as to exactly what he may be planning. The president’s singling out of enemies and his ominous hints at a move toward military rule have echoes of fascism, however, and suggest a dangerous escalation of his administration’s authoritarianism.
In a White House press conference, he sounded like a dictator as he threatened to unleash the army in the streets of America to “quell” demonstrations if state and local authorities don’t crush protesters to his satisfaction. In the face of a supposed rebellion orchestrated by dangerous enemies within—“Antifa and others”—he ordered governors and mayors to “dominate the streets” with the National Guard and police. Should they fail, however, Trump declared his intention to “take immediate presidential action” by mobilizing the military to “quickly solve the problem.”
Trump’s words immediately generated fear as well as uncertainty, as the only legal way for a U.S. president to deploy the military against the country’s own citizens is through the 1807 Insurrection Act, a 213-year-old law that could allow him to bypass governors for the purpose of putting down revolts. The president did not officially invoke the act in his speech on Monday but made clear he plans to initiate a violent crackdown if Americans don’t stop protesting Floyd’s lynching and police brutality.
The confusion over what action Trump was actually initiating with his speech was an essential part of the made-for-TV moment the president produced for the nation yesterday. As he spoke in the Rose Garden, federal forces were attacking peaceful protesters just outside the gates of the White House. The sounds of flash grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas being fired could be heard in the background at the very moment Trump was on television calling himself “an ally of all peaceful protesters.”
In a paltry attempt to deflect charges of racism against his government, Trump even had the gall to say he was “fully committed that for George (Floyd) and his family, justice will be served.” As police continued to drag Black people from their cars and beat demonstrators in...
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