Have your say while you can

Protest. While you can.

This weekend will be yet another organized round of demonstrations, including in Chula Vista, against the Trump Administration and its domestic and international policies.

The “No Kings” marches this year have rallied tens of thousands of Americans in hundreds of cities, towns and communities across the country who have shared grievances against the twice impeached President of the United States and the policies he and his administrators have instituted.

From malicious and storm-trooper-like treatment of immigrants by members of ICE to extra-judicial attacks on other countries to the firing of thousands of federal government workers and slashing aid to seniors who need healthcare subsidies and families struggling to eat, the list of wrongs against Americans and humanity grows daily.

Trump has made no secret of his predilection for those he sees as strong men.

Despots and tyrants such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Turkey’s Recap Erdogan and North Korea’s Kim Jon Un have at one time or another won praise from the current President of the United States, at times expressing admiration for how they have handled opponents and enemies, real or imagined.

This year Trump has already sent the marines to Los Angeles to protect federal agents during immigration raids and he has federalized various National Guards to patrol cities whose leaders he considers a threat to his administration. Who defy his version of law and order.

But as this paper wrote back on June 9, 1968:

“We cannot escape the suspicion that those who speak thusly are thinking in terms of a sort of one-way law and order—a law and order which would protect the majority who are affluent against protest from the minority who are poor…the majority who are white against protest from the minority who are black…the majority who are complacent against the discomfiting protests of the minority who demand not only law and order, but law, order and justice.”

Protest, whether it is in favor of the current president or in opposition to him, because that freedom of expression is a right. For now.
Protest, speak your mind and have your say while you still can.