Jeff Merkley on Trump's 'Extraordinarily Dangerous' Use of National Guard

Concerns Over National Guard Deployment

• ⚠️ Senator Jeff Merkley expresses alarm over the potential deployment of the Oregon National Guard, federalized by the President.
• 🎯 Merkley states that President Trump appears to be seeking to stir up trouble and riots to justify an increase in his authoritarian powers.
• 🚫 The deployment is seen as an extraordinarily dangerous assault on the fundamental principles of the republic.

Legal and Historical Context

• 📜 Merkley references the Posse Comitatus Act, enacted 150 years ago, which restricts the use of the military against citizens.
• ⚖️ This law dictates that the military should only be used internally for a rebellion (an organized, violent effort to overthrow the country) or in cases of invasion.
• ❌ Neither of these circumstances, a rebellion or invasion, are currently present.

Handling Civil Unrest

• 🚓 Merkley asserts that any issues seen in Oregon could have been easily handled by local police.
• 🗣️ He urges citizens not to take the bait and help Trump create violent interactions that he can use to justify further authoritarian force.

Call to Action

• 🗳️ Merkley emphasizes the importance of the upcoming election, urging people to get involved and hold electors accountable.
• ✊ He encourages joining affinity groups and the resistance to save the republic.