An Escalation of Oppression: Trump, the Military, and Suppression of Dissent

The executive order mobilizing law enforcement and the military is a major, major crossroads

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Part of the work of documenting and organizing against authoritarianism is noting the cyclical nature of the process. Recently I discussed the moments of vulnerability, how authoritarian overreach inevitably create openings for resistance to gain victories and ultimately defeat the threat. The Trump Administration is hemorrhaging support following a slew of errors, obvious brutality and cruelty, and the demolition of the world’s free trade system. This process of recognizing the ebb and flow of authoritarianism is necessary for survival. And, unfortunately, we have now witnessed the beginning of one of the more dangerous and perilous chapters.

The executive order titled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens” is an escalation of immense magnitude. Behind a wall of strategized legalese and fine-tuned language, what lies here is the infrastructure of a violent crackdown by law enforcement and the military in the event of mass action and protests. Those of us who pay attention knew this was coming. Donald Trump’s actions during his first term hinted at his awful desires, but he and his acolytes haven’t even bothered to hide their intentions to enable this environment and use the power of state violence. Still, seeing it laid out so starkly is jolting.

Authoritarianism’s use of abusive tactics follows a traceable path. The aggressive warping of infrastructure and institutions creates a sense of panic among the affected populace, leading to an understandable reaction of fear and revolt. As this happens, some are too stunned to do anything. Others, particularly moderates, race to get in line with the authoritarian and become capitulaters, collaborators, and expose themselves as eager quislings. Elsewhere, the mass of the population begins to resist. They talk with one another, compare notes, feel powerful in the fact that their feelings and concerns are validated. A backlash begins to grow.

As we face the true, unvarnished nature of this abomination, as we build our coalitions, as we grow solidarity, it is necessary for the authoritarian, from a place of weakness and a desperate need for control, to slide into place one of the final elements of the state they desire: growing and relentless state violence.

This stage is one of the most important stages. In it, the authoritarian is attempting to cement both their hold over the apparatuses of state power, but also the agency of the population. Now, with the passage of this order, and with the operations moving into place, it is the setting of a gameboard of the authoritarian’s design. It is a rigged game, and once it is in place the authoritarian manages both the apparatus of state violence, but also the definitions of “legal” and “criminal,” “loyal” and “threat.” To oppose the authoritarian’s will in any way becomes illegal, dangerous, and essentially a death sentence.

As this happens, political domination becomes mental domination. I have spoken of this before - within us is installed a dictator within our heads. A manager, so to speak, that reminds us that every thought we have, every reaction to ongoing domination and oppression, is dangerous and could, if uncontrolled, lead to suffering and worse. We are supposed to see judges being arrested, immigrants and children being disappeared, and intuitively understand that the authoritarian can get anyone at anytime. You could be arrested. You could be disappeared. And you have already seen that the normal guardrails are not necessarily powerless to stop that, but unwilling to as well.

It needs mentioned that this path is not concrete or inevitable. Things change. History has a funny way of erupting, in changing courses in ways that seem impossible. Sometimes it lessens the grip of the authoritarian. Sometimes it strengthens it. We must remain vigilant and sensitive to these changes.

The cycle continues. Building resistance almost inevitably clashes against consolidated state violence. Protests are declared insurgencies. Dissent as treason. In these moments, there are more variables. More questions. Will law enforcement follow illegal orders? Will the military use its violence against citizens? Each protest, each incident, each moment is yet another powderkeg. The battle is a battle of wills. More questions. Will people take to the streets in the face of organized violence? If they do, and if there is violence, will they continue?

Here is where we pause. There are so many variables that are unpredictable, but some earnestness and honesty is important. Recently I was on a call with a group organizing resistance and one of the members asked me about this very scenario. I think, even before this order was signed, we felt it coming. The member asked me if I thought protest and resistance could lead to violence. And I had to answer yes. Sometimes we’re lucky. In the instance of the recent coup attempt in South Korea, the people rose up swiftly and the authoritarian blinked. Violence was avoided. Unfortunately, we are further down the path.

Despite what others will tell you, America has a history of this. This country was built on the usage of state violence. From the very beginning, through the enslavement of people, through the ethnic cleaning of the indigenous people, in instances where even George Washington, as the first president, led troops against the Whiskey Rebellion, in long-obscured moments where troops fired on striking workers, to the bloodstained tragedy at Kent State, we have seen this time and time again.

It is likely that some or most of the called-upon members of law enforcement and the military will carry out their orders. Best case scenarios is that they won’t. But it is how we react and whether we will meet the moment or retreat from it. This isn’t a happy thing to discuss. It isn’t comforting. But, again, this moment is a test of wills. If it comes to this awful conclusion, it will be a matter of whether we have steeled ourselves to the seriousness of the time or if we give in and let the authoritarian have their way. We’re talking about this because this is a time of honest, mature conversations. If we are not prepared for what is coming, it will catch us by surprise and then there will be no decisions needing made. We will react on instinct. Out of fear and shock.

Again, Trump has telegraphed what he wants and what he will do. It has been happening for a decade now. And, before him, we saw the construction of the authoritarian apparatus, going back to the War on Terror with its surveillance and manic violence, but before, as well, with the erection of the carceral state and increased domestic militarization. We have been living in a state of denial as this happened and we cannot afford it anymore.

I believe we will win. I hope and pray that we can avoid not just the worse case scenario, but the tragedy along the way. But preparing depends on seeing what is possible and what is clearly in front of us. And we can avoid this. Head it off at the pass. I hope we will.