This is Lincoln Memorial last night. LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
Lincoln would shudder at the idea of federal troops being used to put down a Black Lives Matter protest.
Let’s not forget that when President Donald Trump crawled out of his bunker on Monday, he threatened to use the active duty military to deal with nationwide violent protests over the last week. To actually do so, he would need to employ what’s known as the Insurrection Act of 1807. It empowers the American president to deploy military troops within the U.S. in particular circumstances, if they believe it is necessary to quell an “insurrection” that threatens a state or its residents. The act was revised after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to expand presidential power (no surprise there). Prior to invoking the Insurrection Act, the president and the attorney general must first issue a “proclamation to disperse.” If the situation is not cleared, the president may then issue an executive order to send in troops.
To be clear, the White House has not issued a proclamation text yet, and President Trump didn’t use the words “Insurrection Act” in his Monday night statement, but we know that at least one Republican senator has already recommended it.
This is why we vote, guys. When Republicans proclaim that they like “freedom” and “liberty”, they don’t mean freedom and liberty for all.
