It’s out of control and the majority of the Democrat Leadership appears to be doing absolutely nothing! Why are they not going to Minneapolis and standing beside the mayor and the governor? Why are they not screaming in front of the Capital steps? Where are all the famous celebrity donors?
Linn, you’re not wrong to be alarmed. Democratic leadership IS behind the eight ball...and they’ve been reactive from day one...instead of meeting Trump’s dangerous antics with sustained...visible resistance the moment he was sworn in.
Silence and caution created a vacuum...and vacuums get filled. Showing up early...loudly... and consistently could have shaped the narrative before it hardened. That hesitation is costing us now.
The perfect example of what Jack is talking about is Martin Luther King. Non-violent, sane protestors. His marches were symbolic;ic in that they were non-violent and the press didn't cover them unless the racist elements tried to arrest them or stop their protests by force. It's why we have an MLK holiday and not a George Wallace holiday.
Exactly right, Steven. MLK understood something many people forget now: nonviolent, disciplined protest forces the CONTRAST.
His marches didn’t create chaos...they EXPOSED it...when segregationists resorted to force. That moral clarity is why history remembers King...not George Wallace. Optics + discipline changed the country!
I grew up in the early 60s in Oakland California. I remember the news covering the Panthers on TV every night. They were indeed an imposing sight to behold. As a young girl, I thought that they were standing up for their rights in a terribly oppressive system. I didn't fear them, but my parents sure the hell did. I so completely admire that the Black Pathers are stepping up, when no one else will. These Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and KKK, so called ICE, are literally masterbating to the thought of legally killing some n****s under the protection of the US government, and that's what the orange shitgibbon wants. Jack is right. My beloved Panthers, now is not the time. You are being used and led into a trap. Keep your decency, find another way. Your hearts are true. Find another way!
Coco, I hear the love...the history...and the heartbreak in what you’re saying.
Many of us admired the Panthers as a necessary response to a brutal system...and that admiration is real.
But you’re also naming the hard truth: THIS moment is different. Today...armed presence doesn’t force moral clarity... it gets weaponized by people itching for justification.
Your instinct is right...this is NOT about courage or decency. It’s about avoiding a trap designed to turn righteous intent...into catastrophic permission.
I have no doubt their hearts are true. That’s exactly why they deserve a safer..smarter path forward.
Rae...that memory matters. The Panthers feeding children...caring for their communities...that’s the legacy people forget.
They were human...dignified...and treated with cruelty they didn’t deserve.
That’s exactly why this hurts to watch. More bullets won’t end this peacefully; they only multiply the damage... significantly.
I bet that their hearts are true...and that’s why I hope they choose another path...one that protects lives instead of giving hatred the outcome...it’s hoping for.
A dark horse movement to protect the populace? I don't think so! Small unit militant tactics are no match for strategy. A single act of violence at this point in time is to give Cheetolini and the NAZI stephen miller exactly the opportunity they are looking for to impose the Insurrection Act. This amounts to an open invitation for ICE to engage in more violence. This is exactly what we don't need at this time; the Federal Court just ordered ICE to stand down their aggressive and unconstitutional practices.
One “small unit” violence fantasy right now isn’t resistance...it’s fuel. It hands Trump/Miller the optics and pretext they want to scream “emergency” and push Insurrection Act-style escalation. This is a clear as clean glass.
And...the key fact...the courts are starting to clamp down. A federal judge in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction RESTRICTING DHS/ICE tactics against peaceful protesters/observers and related aggressive practices.
Mary E, I get your point...masked...plainclothes...unmarked guys with guns feel like “armed civilians.” They really, truly do.
But...legally, ICE is federal law enforcement under DHS with statutory authority.
The sharper argument is accountability...agents using tactics that blur identification and chill rights.
That’s why there’s a push for laws requiring clear ID / limiting masks. (and, no...that won't happen as fast as we need it to. No question about it.)
With a Minnesota federal judge already restricting aggressive protest tactics...the winning battlefield is courts + documentation...not street escalation.
Thx, Jack. Trickles of comments from other countries are reaching social media, questioning the apathy level of most Americans, comparing this scenario to that in Iran, pointing out the USA’s conduct could negatively impact the world economy, world safety, and the global environment for the foreseeable future. And, I have to agree.
Where is a widely embraced rage? Does it exist? Are we a country of slugs? I have been active, a few friends have been active but my guess is 2/3 of the people I know have not been. It’s defeating and then some.
It is exactly like a school shooting; horror is expressed for about one week, then maybe sadness for the second week as the funerals are shown, then nothing.
Earlier today, the DOJ announced it will not be releasing any more Epstein files and added no court has jurisdiction to order otherwise. I’m not sure the winning battlefield is the courts. I know it should be the courts.
I agree with you, Mary E., that it's very discouraging in our daily lives when people around us don't seem to realize how our government is fast becoming or is fascist. I think many people don't understand how government should work, what to believe, and how to process whatever information they consume. It leaves them feeling helpless, fearful, and ultimately looking anywhere but at what is right in front of their eyes. In my encounters, I am actually dumbfounded by the lack of any discussion about current events, especially around MAGA. So we keep moving forward and hope more and more people will join us.
A well-intentioned and catastrophically dangerous move because:
“Armed ‘Protection’ Helps the government Shift Blame. . . The real issue right now is state power.
When civilians visibly arm themselves, the spotlight shifts . . .”
and here comes the insurrection act which those paying attention over the past year have known is a goal ultimately leading to cancelled elections and consolidation of authoritarianism.
Audrey, exactly. The moment civilians show up “armed for protection,” the story stops being state power and becomes street violence...and that’s the handoff they WANT.
Then it’s, “Look at the chaos… we need emergency powers… we need troops… we need federal control.” And yes...INSURRECTION ACT-style escalation has been openly floated as the next lever. We have no reason to doubt him.
Strategy beats sparks. Don’t hand them the optics. Keep the spotlight where it belongs... the state’s conduct...the paper trail...the injunctions...and the accountability.
One of the best articles that I could fully understand! Jack, you outdid yourself with this one. My awareness has definitely increased. One of the things that concerns me is the hesitancy that many people have of speaking up and/or being noticed for protesting. How do we handle that? I think about that often as I attempt to 'talk' on social media.
If you haven't done so already, Jack, this needs to be in the hands of at least Pritzker, Walz, and Newsom (and their mayors). Though MN is the current hot spot, there are potential (possibly even likely) copy cat locations. Agreed, a repeat of the 19teens and 20s, or the 60s-70s, unrest would be political (if not societal) suicide. I lived through Kent State and the Vietnam/Nixon, Watts, and others. Violence, even when in response to abhorrent political and social realities, is nearly certain to trigger more violence and/or general social unrest and blow-back.
We may be headed "there" regardless, but we don't need to risk the release of a new Dukes of Hazard series. Seriously, I also don't want my great, great, great grandchildren selling "Made in Occupied USA" trinkets on the next century's version of eBay.
You are right Jack common sense must prevail. But lack of action is ruling the day. Here are some things you can do (piggybacking on Jack’s words).
De-escalation teams-Community members trained in de-escalation techniques-every city has these. Swat guys, urban fathers and mothers against violence, neighborhood watch groups. Not hard to find. Call yours. Join. Learn effective techniques and ask why the hell they are not mobilized now!
Legal observers-Call your local ACLU. Call the law firms that do not support Trump. Find 2nd and 3rd year law students and ask them to be legal observers and recorders.
Medical volunteers-approach the local hospitals. The nurses’ unions. Passionate doctors. Paramedics unions. Get them on board to be available and assist.
Massive visibility of clergy, elders, parents. Call your churches, synagogues, temples, super churches. Get these people out there and commenting regularly. Hey if the pope can speak out so can they.
Relentless documentation. This is going on with phones recording. But that is not the only way. Record yourself in a time line journal. For you traditionalists write a time line journal at all demonstrations. These become legal documents in a court of law. Publish them on line!!
Institutional campaigns-call your institutions, businesses, community organizations, etc and ask why they are not being represented? Urge them to
Get involved. Refuse to service ICE, throw them out of your businesses. Be proactive.
Call your senators, representatives, commissioners, council people, mayors, aldermen, any government representative of ANY party affiliation. Demand that they get involved at best attending peaceful demonstrations. At least publicly condemn ICE etc. These calls work. Make lotsa noise!
Republish, stack, post the atrocities and bs. Information is powerful and must be kept on the front burner. Don’t let the actions of Trump become normal. Scream out on social media and keep people aware and informed!
Don’t give up and don’t give in. We’re gonna win this thing!
Damn! I feel like I really screwed up. I was so wrong and if I’d thought about it more, I would’ve realized that. I’m just so tired of watching innocent people hurt, terrorized, detained or killed that I didn’t take the time to think it through. Instead I reacted emotionally. Thanks for setting me straight. I just wish it had happened sooner. So much damage done already.
What can I do to mitigate the damage or is there anything that will? I posted your article on Threads but I doubt it’ll get the nearly 24k likes and 2k rethreads that my post regarding the Black Panthers did.. okay, I KNOW it won’t even with the comment I made.
There is greater strength in peaceful resistance. It requires more creativity and just as much courage, perhaps even more courage, than armed people threatening others. There are many examples of this throughout history: Ghandi, King, and Quaker groups are some that come to mind. I would love to see a list of others here. OK Democratic “leaders”, it’s time to show some leadership if you have any at all. Or, just get out of the way. #HOLDFAST.
Well the frog in Portland, Oregon comes to mind, and the students putting flowers in the rifle barrels of the National Guard during Vietnam war protests.
I agree that (for now) armed civilians will only escalate the situation in Trump’s favour. I’m not sure how much longer that opinion can hold.
Waltz has indicated that he has readied the National Guard. They should be in the streets protecting citizens from abuse by ICE’s thugs.
That in itself may cause a civil war, but something has to be done. Offer Ice legit assistance in arresting criminal illegals, as its mandate states, but restrict ICE from illegally persecuting innocent people.
I hold firm in my belief that the country needs to be shut down on Jan. 30th in a persistent national strike. Dems need to grow a spine and stop funding this corrupt regime entirely. If they are not willing to help save democracy and citizens lives, then there is no other way for this nightmare to end, other than armed conflict.
If Dems want to prevent a civil war they need to step up and do their damn job.
I am proud of the Black Panthers for wanting to help, but you are right Jack, it will throw fuel on the fire. Whatever strength they can bring to bear will be met with armaments usually used to kill innocents in other countries.
It’s out of control and the majority of the Democrat Leadership appears to be doing absolutely nothing! Why are they not going to Minneapolis and standing beside the mayor and the governor? Why are they not screaming in front of the Capital steps? Where are all the famous celebrity donors?
Linn, you’re not wrong to be alarmed. Democratic leadership IS behind the eight ball...and they’ve been reactive from day one...instead of meeting Trump’s dangerous antics with sustained...visible resistance the moment he was sworn in.
Silence and caution created a vacuum...and vacuums get filled. Showing up early...loudly... and consistently could have shaped the narrative before it hardened. That hesitation is costing us now.
-Jack
The Democratic Leadership is not coming to save us. It's up to us to save us.
Unfortunately that is very true! At this point they have gone from being useless to actually being a hindrance.
The perfect example of what Jack is talking about is Martin Luther King. Non-violent, sane protestors. His marches were symbolic;ic in that they were non-violent and the press didn't cover them unless the racist elements tried to arrest them or stop their protests by force. It's why we have an MLK holiday and not a George Wallace holiday.
Exactly right, Steven. MLK understood something many people forget now: nonviolent, disciplined protest forces the CONTRAST.
His marches didn’t create chaos...they EXPOSED it...when segregationists resorted to force. That moral clarity is why history remembers King...not George Wallace. Optics + discipline changed the country!
-Jack
I grew up in the early 60s in Oakland California. I remember the news covering the Panthers on TV every night. They were indeed an imposing sight to behold. As a young girl, I thought that they were standing up for their rights in a terribly oppressive system. I didn't fear them, but my parents sure the hell did. I so completely admire that the Black Pathers are stepping up, when no one else will. These Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and KKK, so called ICE, are literally masterbating to the thought of legally killing some n****s under the protection of the US government, and that's what the orange shitgibbon wants. Jack is right. My beloved Panthers, now is not the time. You are being used and led into a trap. Keep your decency, find another way. Your hearts are true. Find another way!
Coco, I hear the love...the history...and the heartbreak in what you’re saying.
Many of us admired the Panthers as a necessary response to a brutal system...and that admiration is real.
But you’re also naming the hard truth: THIS moment is different. Today...armed presence doesn’t force moral clarity... it gets weaponized by people itching for justification.
Your instinct is right...this is NOT about courage or decency. It’s about avoiding a trap designed to turn righteous intent...into catastrophic permission.
I have no doubt their hearts are true. That’s exactly why they deserve a safer..smarter path forward.
-Jack
I was born in 1960, and what I remember most is their feeding children breakfast. And they were handsome and not treated well.
I’m afraid this will only add more bullets. More bullets will not end peacefully.
Their hearts are true, indeed.
PLEASE find another way. 🙏🏽
Rae...that memory matters. The Panthers feeding children...caring for their communities...that’s the legacy people forget.
They were human...dignified...and treated with cruelty they didn’t deserve.
That’s exactly why this hurts to watch. More bullets won’t end this peacefully; they only multiply the damage... significantly.
I bet that their hearts are true...and that’s why I hope they choose another path...one that protects lives instead of giving hatred the outcome...it’s hoping for.
-Jack
A dark horse movement to protect the populace? I don't think so! Small unit militant tactics are no match for strategy. A single act of violence at this point in time is to give Cheetolini and the NAZI stephen miller exactly the opportunity they are looking for to impose the Insurrection Act. This amounts to an open invitation for ICE to engage in more violence. This is exactly what we don't need at this time; the Federal Court just ordered ICE to stand down their aggressive and unconstitutional practices.
James...you nailed it. You’re right.
One “small unit” violence fantasy right now isn’t resistance...it’s fuel. It hands Trump/Miller the optics and pretext they want to scream “emergency” and push Insurrection Act-style escalation. This is a clear as clean glass.
And...the key fact...the courts are starting to clamp down. A federal judge in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction RESTRICTING DHS/ICE tactics against peaceful protesters/observers and related aggressive practices.
Winning move = discipline: nonviolence + documentation + litigation + visibility.
Deny the excuse...strengthen the court record...and make every overreach cost more.
-Jack
“If we hand Trump images of armed civilians patrolling American streets, we are not resisting authoritarianism.”
I consider ICE to be armed (unidentified) civilians patrolling the streets.
Mary E, I get your point...masked...plainclothes...unmarked guys with guns feel like “armed civilians.” They really, truly do.
But...legally, ICE is federal law enforcement under DHS with statutory authority.
The sharper argument is accountability...agents using tactics that blur identification and chill rights.
That’s why there’s a push for laws requiring clear ID / limiting masks. (and, no...that won't happen as fast as we need it to. No question about it.)
With a Minnesota federal judge already restricting aggressive protest tactics...the winning battlefield is courts + documentation...not street escalation.
#HoldFast
-Jack
Thx, Jack. Trickles of comments from other countries are reaching social media, questioning the apathy level of most Americans, comparing this scenario to that in Iran, pointing out the USA’s conduct could negatively impact the world economy, world safety, and the global environment for the foreseeable future. And, I have to agree.
Where is a widely embraced rage? Does it exist? Are we a country of slugs? I have been active, a few friends have been active but my guess is 2/3 of the people I know have not been. It’s defeating and then some.
It is exactly like a school shooting; horror is expressed for about one week, then maybe sadness for the second week as the funerals are shown, then nothing.
Earlier today, the DOJ announced it will not be releasing any more Epstein files and added no court has jurisdiction to order otherwise. I’m not sure the winning battlefield is the courts. I know it should be the courts.
I agree with you, Mary E., that it's very discouraging in our daily lives when people around us don't seem to realize how our government is fast becoming or is fascist. I think many people don't understand how government should work, what to believe, and how to process whatever information they consume. It leaves them feeling helpless, fearful, and ultimately looking anywhere but at what is right in front of their eyes. In my encounters, I am actually dumbfounded by the lack of any discussion about current events, especially around MAGA. So we keep moving forward and hope more and more people will join us.
Thank you, Lynn
A well-intentioned and catastrophically dangerous move because:
“Armed ‘Protection’ Helps the government Shift Blame. . . The real issue right now is state power.
When civilians visibly arm themselves, the spotlight shifts . . .”
and here comes the insurrection act which those paying attention over the past year have known is a goal ultimately leading to cancelled elections and consolidation of authoritarianism.
Thank you for this @jackhopkins #HoldFast
Audrey, exactly. The moment civilians show up “armed for protection,” the story stops being state power and becomes street violence...and that’s the handoff they WANT.
Then it’s, “Look at the chaos… we need emergency powers… we need troops… we need federal control.” And yes...INSURRECTION ACT-style escalation has been openly floated as the next lever. We have no reason to doubt him.
Strategy beats sparks. Don’t hand them the optics. Keep the spotlight where it belongs... the state’s conduct...the paper trail...the injunctions...and the accountability.
#HoldFast
-Jack
You make an excellent point.
Thank you, Stephanie Church. I appreciate that.
-Jack
One of the best articles that I could fully understand! Jack, you outdid yourself with this one. My awareness has definitely increased. One of the things that concerns me is the hesitancy that many people have of speaking up and/or being noticed for protesting. How do we handle that? I think about that often as I attempt to 'talk' on social media.
If you haven't done so already, Jack, this needs to be in the hands of at least Pritzker, Walz, and Newsom (and their mayors). Though MN is the current hot spot, there are potential (possibly even likely) copy cat locations. Agreed, a repeat of the 19teens and 20s, or the 60s-70s, unrest would be political (if not societal) suicide. I lived through Kent State and the Vietnam/Nixon, Watts, and others. Violence, even when in response to abhorrent political and social realities, is nearly certain to trigger more violence and/or general social unrest and blow-back.
We may be headed "there" regardless, but we don't need to risk the release of a new Dukes of Hazard series. Seriously, I also don't want my great, great, great grandchildren selling "Made in Occupied USA" trinkets on the next century's version of eBay.
I am from the same timeline remember all from those years. You are exactly right.
You are right Jack common sense must prevail. But lack of action is ruling the day. Here are some things you can do (piggybacking on Jack’s words).
De-escalation teams-Community members trained in de-escalation techniques-every city has these. Swat guys, urban fathers and mothers against violence, neighborhood watch groups. Not hard to find. Call yours. Join. Learn effective techniques and ask why the hell they are not mobilized now!
Legal observers-Call your local ACLU. Call the law firms that do not support Trump. Find 2nd and 3rd year law students and ask them to be legal observers and recorders.
Medical volunteers-approach the local hospitals. The nurses’ unions. Passionate doctors. Paramedics unions. Get them on board to be available and assist.
Massive visibility of clergy, elders, parents. Call your churches, synagogues, temples, super churches. Get these people out there and commenting regularly. Hey if the pope can speak out so can they.
Relentless documentation. This is going on with phones recording. But that is not the only way. Record yourself in a time line journal. For you traditionalists write a time line journal at all demonstrations. These become legal documents in a court of law. Publish them on line!!
Institutional campaigns-call your institutions, businesses, community organizations, etc and ask why they are not being represented? Urge them to
Get involved. Refuse to service ICE, throw them out of your businesses. Be proactive.
Call your senators, representatives, commissioners, council people, mayors, aldermen, any government representative of ANY party affiliation. Demand that they get involved at best attending peaceful demonstrations. At least publicly condemn ICE etc. These calls work. Make lotsa noise!
Republish, stack, post the atrocities and bs. Information is powerful and must be kept on the front burner. Don’t let the actions of Trump become normal. Scream out on social media and keep people aware and informed!
Don’t give up and don’t give in. We’re gonna win this thing!
Right again Jack… How about those Epstein files?
Damn! I feel like I really screwed up. I was so wrong and if I’d thought about it more, I would’ve realized that. I’m just so tired of watching innocent people hurt, terrorized, detained or killed that I didn’t take the time to think it through. Instead I reacted emotionally. Thanks for setting me straight. I just wish it had happened sooner. So much damage done already.
What can I do to mitigate the damage or is there anything that will? I posted your article on Threads but I doubt it’ll get the nearly 24k likes and 2k rethreads that my post regarding the Black Panthers did.. okay, I KNOW it won’t even with the comment I made.
I hate this! I’m sorry! 😔
#HOLDFAST
~Susan
Terrific advice Jack. Calm. Measured. Willful. Together in peace. ☮️
There is greater strength in peaceful resistance. It requires more creativity and just as much courage, perhaps even more courage, than armed people threatening others. There are many examples of this throughout history: Ghandi, King, and Quaker groups are some that come to mind. I would love to see a list of others here. OK Democratic “leaders”, it’s time to show some leadership if you have any at all. Or, just get out of the way. #HOLDFAST.
Well the frog in Portland, Oregon comes to mind, and the students putting flowers in the rifle barrels of the National Guard during Vietnam war protests.
Yes!!! Those people are brave and magnificent!
I agree that (for now) armed civilians will only escalate the situation in Trump’s favour. I’m not sure how much longer that opinion can hold.
Waltz has indicated that he has readied the National Guard. They should be in the streets protecting citizens from abuse by ICE’s thugs.
That in itself may cause a civil war, but something has to be done. Offer Ice legit assistance in arresting criminal illegals, as its mandate states, but restrict ICE from illegally persecuting innocent people.
I hold firm in my belief that the country needs to be shut down on Jan. 30th in a persistent national strike. Dems need to grow a spine and stop funding this corrupt regime entirely. If they are not willing to help save democracy and citizens lives, then there is no other way for this nightmare to end, other than armed conflict.
If Dems want to prevent a civil war they need to step up and do their damn job.
I am proud of the Black Panthers for wanting to help, but you are right Jack, it will throw fuel on the fire. Whatever strength they can bring to bear will be met with armaments usually used to kill innocents in other countries.
#HoldFast and hug your loved ones.