Insurrection in Los Angeles? Hardly
Donald Trump seems to have become the second president in a row to suffer dementia. The poor guy can't distinguish between spontaneous anger and an insurrection requiring the National Guard.
Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard to Los Angeles to protect the gestapo-like antics of the Immigration police (ICE). Of those called, only 300 showed up, according to the L.A. Times.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s opposition to Trump’s misuse of the National Guard stood – for only one day. Not to be outdone, Newsom ordered 640 Highway Patrol officers to join the melee in Los Angeles. His actions, and Trump’s, plus the violent hostilities by ICE are all creating a polarizing atmosphere in California.
To make matters worse, Trump has called in 700 Marines from Camp Pendleton to use their military expertise on the streets of Los Angeles.
In addition to the overflow of federal agents, more than 100 local cops and sheriff deputies were sent from their counties to L.A. County. The ease in which these officers were able to drop everything and move into hotels in the city likely proves that these counties are overstaffed with police and could better use their taxpayer dollars elsewhere.
Trump’s disparate army made a tactical mistake last Friday when they injured and then arrested the head of the California Service Employees Union, David Huerta. He was shoved by one of the ICE agents which caused him to fall and hit his head on a concrete curb.
Huerta was released Monday after pleas from political officials, union leaders, and L.A.’s Mayor, Karen Bass. However, he still had to post a $50,000 bond to get out of jail. Federal authorities claimed he was “deliberately obstructing federal agents’ access to a worksite.”
The treatment afforded Huerta should send a message to every union official in the country on where they stand in Trump’s New America. Their actions should be to mobilize their membership in support of the rights of the undocumented workers who are being victimized by the ICE gestapo and their leader, Donald Trump.
Can Trump Be Impeached?
It may be time to consider Trump’s failure to obey the laws of this country. The California Attorney General has filed a federal lawsuit against Trump for allegedly violating the law by going around California’s elected Governor in calling in the National Guard. It’s not just what Trump has done, it’s what he will do if he is allowed to wield so much unconstitutional power.
Would Congress impeach Trump? It’s possible. The number of Republicans in the two houses are just slightly higher than the number of Democrats. Not all of the Republicans are Trump supporters, so it is possible that some of them might vote for impeachment.
In any case, if we stand for free speech, due process, and dignity and respect for all, then we need to speak up, and even put our bodies on the line. That’s the only way we can turn back this darkness. Join the mass protests that will be held nationwide, including Los Angeles, on Saturday, June 14.