American Police State

Building an authoritarian infrastructure

Monday, before the administration ordered 700 Marines to join the 2000 National Guard troops stationed in Los Angeles, The Guardian published an opinion piece by Robert Reich entitled “We Are Witnessing the First Stages of a Trump Police State.”

Reich writes, “History shows that once an authoritarian ruler establishes the infrastructure of a police state, that same infrastructure can be turned on anyone.” Right now, the domestic military deployment is in response to protests over the arrests of immigrants. In the future, the infrastructure could be turned against other groups.

The administration has referred to the protests in Los Angeles as a “rebellion” and “insurrection.” Those are the code words, Reich argues, that set the stage for the declaration of an official “emergency” that could lead to martial law.

Perhaps Reich is being alarmist. Maybe we’re not headed toward martial law and the suspension of due process. But we are watching the administration build the infrastructure necessary for an authoritarian police state, should it decide to put one in action.

What’s happening in Los Angeles has become the backdrop and the context for the nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 2025. I hope you can attend a rally and make your voice heard. If you do go, stay peaceful and stay safe.

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