Trump World
You know, this whole set of essays is called “Trump World”. It’s about our world in the time of Trump, and as the author, though I often write about the President’s actions, I try not to write about Donald Trump every time. But today, I am going to write about what he did yesterday, and how the symbolism he hoped for turned out to be emblematic of his entire view of America.
We Get It
This last week has been one of outrage. Most Americans are sickened by the video of George Floyd begging for his life, as a police officer in Minneapolis “puts him to sleep”. And most Americans recognize that it happened once again to a black person, only the last in a series of outrageous killings of black people in the past few months. The first two were covered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it took time for them to percolate up to media visibility. But the murder of George Floyd instantaneously galvanized Americans. It was if someone way saying:
“The hunting down and shooting of Ahmaud Arbery wasn’t enough. The ‘no-knock’ execution of Breonna Taylor didn’t get you. So how about we just murder George Floyd on the street in broad daylight in front of witnesses. Get it now?”
We get it. Many people get it. Young folks who never considered themselves “political” or “activists” get it. They are in the streets, crying out for justice, not just for Ahmaud and Breonna and George. They are demanding justice for all black Americans, who have lived in fear of the authorities for too long. “No Justice, No Peace” is their demand: black and white, young and old, men and women marching.
First Amendment
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is clear: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or the press, or the right to peaceable assemble, or petition for the redress of grievances. So when those mostly young people stand in front of the Ohio Statehouse, or march down the streets on Minneapolis, or gather across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House in Lafayette Park, it’s not about privilege.
It’s about rights.
The City of Washington DC made a “deal” with the demonstrators. The city authorities said, they could exercise their legitimate right to speech, assemble, and petition until 7:00pm. Because of the rioting and the looting that had occurred, after that time the city instituted a curfew to clear the streets. So demonstrators gathered in Lafayette Park to make their voice heard. They wanted it heard by Donald Trump, the President of the United States. They wanted him to know their outrage, and their demand for change.
Photo-Op
Their presence was inconvenient for the President. On Friday, when things got out of hand, his Secret Service security rushed him to the “bomb shelter” underneath the West Wing, for fear that the crowd might reach the building. They didn’t, but the image of Donald Trump tweeting from the basement was too much for the man to bear. He looked weak.
So the weak man decided to lash out. On Monday he determined that he would give a 6:30pm address in the White House Rose Garden. He didn’t want it to be interrupted by chants. And to prove his “religiosity” to his Christian base, he determined that he would walk across the park to the St. John’s Episcopal Church. A small fire had been set in the basement on Friday. Trump, a man who couldn’t walk with world leaders at the G-20 summit and had to use a golf cart, now wanted to make this one block “pilgrimage”.
He would have to walk across Lafayette Park. It was twenty minutes before curfew. Security wouldn’t allow the crowd to stay. Besides, the President wasn’t interested in hearing their views, or facing confrontation. So the tear gas was fired, and the rubber bullets flew. The mounted Park Police rode forward, and the crowd, now denied their legal rights, was driven away. All so Donald Trump could stand in front of the church, waving a Bible he likely has never read. He thought it would make a good “photo-op”.
Domination
The President wants to “dominate” the streets. He wants to use an arcane law, “The Insurrection Act” to send the US military into cities, whether the Mayors or Governors want help or not. He needs to show “strength”, especially in cities controlled by Democratic Party leaders. He’s lashing out.
I am a Star Wars guy. There is a phrase said by Obi Won Kenobi the Jedi Master as his former student, Darth Vader, moves to kill him.
“If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
Donald Trump should take note as he ignores the Constitution and the legitimate grievances of Americans. The election is only five months away.
