Thread: Portland isn't the canary in the coalmine -- it's the explosion. If we do not mount a massive national pushback we will be in full-blown fascism from which there is no turning back. The tweets of dismayed Democrats and Justin Amash are not enough. /1

We must collectively demand more from our electeds, and be prepared to take to the streets in greater numbers even than we did after George Floyd.

Here are some concrete suggestions for our electeds, which you can call/write/tweet/fax/email them to DEMAND that they take. /2

1. The House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Oversight Reform should schedule a joint hearing THIS WEEK about the plans to expand into "Democrat cities" as Trump called them. /3

2. They must START with subpoenas for Ken Cucinnelli and Chad Wolf, for L. Eric Patterson (director of the Federal Protective Service), for CBP and BORTAC, and tell them plainly that if they don't show up, the House will hold them in contempt and have them arrested. /4

It is not acceptable for House reps to politely ask Trump admin stooges to show up, be told no, and then waste time dithering over scheduling. We are in an emergency. Fascism requires AGGRESSIVE, but still constitutional, responses. Fight with strength. /5

3. House reps, especially House Committee on Homeland Security Chair Bennie Thompson, must tell Trump/DHS that DHS/ICE/CBP/BORTAC will be DEFUNDED unless these tactics of invading Democratic cities with the U.S. version of brownshirts, are dropped. /6

4. The House must pass legislation that will hold BORTAC members and other federal agents who kidnap citizens off streets without ID retroactively accountable, and without qualified immunity. AOC's new bill, as far as I know, doesn't go that far & won't apply retroactively. /7

This matters because the GOP is unlikely to pass this legislation. BUT if Dems win in November & flip the Senate, the bill can pass. And these federal agents need to be on notice that they will not have impunity for their actions NOW. /8

In other words, Dems should pass a bill that tells federal agents that they will find themselves under arrest in January or February for their assaults committed to boost Trump's re-election and to harm black and brown people in service of white supremacy. /9

The federal agents who are perpetrating these abuses on our citizens need to know some fear in the moment that they may not have the impunity they think they do. /10

5. House committee lawyers should scorch the earth to find a way to remove Wolf and Cuccinelli — maybe their unconfirmed appointments violate the Vacancies Act? And include language in the funding bill that not only requires these jackboot practices to stop, /11

or these agencies will not be funded, but ALSO require that Wolf and Cuccinelli be replaced by August 15 with confirmed appointments. /12

6. WE can help make this happen by calling/tweeting our House reps, especially members of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Links to the committee members are below: /13
https://homeland.house.gov/about/membership/ https://oversight.house.gov/members 

7. Don’t hesitate to call the Homeland Security Committee Chair, Bennie Thompson (D-MS) or the Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). /14

8. U.S. Senators should do the same. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (Ron Johnson, R, WI, Chair) and Gary Peters (D, MI) can hold hearings and threaten to defund DHS/CBP too. Call your senators and tell them you demand they fight this fascism. /15

10. Governors, mayors, and D.A.’s must publicly categorically reject Trump's threats, and detail a PLAN for protecting their residents. Call yours to demand they announce they will sue; will arrest federal agents who kidnap & attack protestors; and will call the Nat'l Guard. /16

11. Finally, we must be prepared to flood the streets including organizing protests ourselves if there aren't any near us. Build on the organizing from BLM and recognize the direct link between what's happening in Portland and BLM: /17

Though federal agents in Portland are attacking white moms and white medics and white Navy veterans for standing up in support of BLM, this garbage about protecting federal buildings is all a pretext for attacking BLACK and BROWN people in "Democrat cities". /18

It's being done both for the illegal reason of propping up Trump's election effort by whipping up the Republican base, and to further Trump’s grotesque white supremacist goals. CBP is itself infiltrated by white supremacists. They'll go after white people if they have to, but /19

people of color are their target -- these are CBP SWAT teams and they look for brown and black.

So please contact/retweet to your electeds. DEMAND they fight fascism with every tool they have.

This can't wait until November. There won’t be a November if we let this stand./END