House Majority Whip Tom Emmer claimed yesterday in a press conference that the government shutdown “is about one thing and one thing alone: To score political points with the terrorist wing of their party.” House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed that same lie after Emmer. They both continued by irresponsibly asserting that the October 18th “No Kings 2.0” mass demonstrations are “Hate America” protests. Enough with the lies. Pious, sanctimonious so-called Christian Johnson spews hatred in his tepid tones and Cheshire grin, but make no mistake. What he is promoting is dangerous rhetorical nonsense to distract and divert attention away from Republicans losing the political framing battle to Democrats regarding the shutdown. They are desperate to blame Democrats by calling them terrorists. They castigate anyone who dares participate in the “No Kings 2.0” demonstrations as part of the “terrorist wing” of the Democratic party. To the contrary, what they reveal in their pathetic but dangerous name calling is that the entire Republican Party turns a blind eye to ICE terrorism documented repeatedly by media and protesters’ videos of ICE agents’ brutality and bully boy tactics. Republican leadership and its sychophantic party members, cowering in isolation afraid to face voters at town hall meetings, tacitly approve or at the very least permit Constitutional abuses that are widespread and outrageous acts of terror.
I plan to participate in the No Kings 2.0 demonstrations. I will be wearing my flowing black robe worn at graduation ceremonies at the college where I taught communication studies for 30 years. In addition, I will also wear a silly long white wig that mimics the British courtroom headgear which I regularly donned during final mock trial final presentations in my Argumentation & Persuasion courses. My choice of attire is meant to signal the message that we protesters stand for defense of the law, due process, and freedom guaranteed by our Constitution. We are not the terrorists and we certainly don’t look the part. We stand against those spreading terror by their blatant violations of due process, warrantless searches and arrests, brutal treatment of immigrants, and celebrations of inhumane treatment of “the others.” Johnson and Emmer and all of his cowardly party members who slither at the feet of the Maestro of Mendacity, Donald Trump, should be ashamed to spout their reprehensible lies. In their faux displays of Christian piety, however, perhaps they should consider what the minister who was shot in the forehead with a pepper ball by ICE agents in front of the ICE facility in Illinois implored—REPENT! Stop excusing, even lauding the terrorism perpetrated by ICE. See you at the demonstrations!!!!!
