By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
protests. Photo: from TikTok video
WASHINTON D.C. – Chicago, Portland, and possibly San Francisco next.
What do these cities have in common?
President Donald Trump’s National Guard call to arms to make these cities safe again.
While I have said it before, I will say it again.
The Posse Comitatus Act.
The act bars federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement. There are a few exceptions. America is not teetering on the brink of those exceptions yet and nor will it ever be.
When National Guard members are activated for federal service under a Title 10 authority, their duty is federally controlled and federally funded.
That translates into the National Guard – federal – participating in civilian law enforcement.
It is a dangerous precedent that our forefathers warned us against when it assured the President does not have authority over the military. Indeed, the president is the commander in chief, but the United States has checks and balances.
Remember the three distinct/independent branches: the legislative (Congress), the executive (the President), and the judicial (Supreme Court and federal courts).
Reminder too, the Declaration of Independence stresses the right of the people to “alter or to abolish” a government that becomes destructive to the people’s rights. It seems the writers believed that ultimate sovereignty resides with “We the People.”
Yes, federal law, Section Title 10 of the U.S. Code, does allow the president to have authority to federalize the National Guard to carry out a mission necessary for public safety, but what is the final nail in the coffin for the president to make that decision.
It seemed the incident in Chicago where reportedly federal agent’s cars were blocked and rammed was that nail in the coffin.
Problem is a second report has since come out that the abovementioned scenario might not have been completely true.
Second problem, people do not know who to believe anymore, even media because there is too much narrative agenda on both sides of the aisle.
Since that time, apparently Chicago businesses are locking their doors and not doing business with ICE agents.
Then there is Portland, Oregon. I am not going to say Portland is the safest city in the country, but before a judge stalled Trump’s move to deploy the National Guard in Portland that city seemed to have decided to take matters in its own hands. There have been protests at ICE facilities with some protestors having supposedly clashed with officers who used pepper balls against them.
Credit: image taken from TikTok video
For example, there is a photo of an ICE agent spraying pepper spray down the mouth of a man wearing a large inflatable frog suit.
You cannot make this stuff up.
If we all dress wearing large inflatable suits history will certainly not show we were being anything other than peaceful.
One news reported said “A small group of federal agents in camouflage and face masks watched from atop the immigration processing center Thursday night as a unicorn, peacock, dinosaur, and raccoon danced to Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Across the street, the self-proclaimed frog brigade — three adults in inflatable amphibian costumes — posed for photos and bounced around in unison. A small group of counter protesters nearby shouted, “We love you, ICE!”
Not going to be easy to call it an insurrection when you have people peacefully dancing around in amphibian suits like in “war torn” Portland.
Last Wednesday Trump announced San Francisco could be the next hot spot where he will send National Guard troops.
“I am going to be strongly recommending at the request of government officials that you start looking at San Francisco,” Trump said. “San Francisco, one of our great cities 10 or 15 years ago and now it is a mess. I would like to recommend that for inclusion in your next group.”
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
