This is out of control
Hello boys and girls. The word for today boys is “lawlessness,” as quoted from Judge Harvie Wilkinson, who wrote that “the [Trump] administration’s actions appear lawless.” Donald Trump continues to invoke the ire of judges across the nation with his continued refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the USA. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals almost immediately rejected Trump’s appeal. Judge Wilkinson wrote the unanimous opinion which said in part: “The Executive will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness and all of its attendant contagions. The Executive may succeed for a time in weakening the courts, but over time history will script the tragic gap between what was and all that might have been, and law in time will sign its epitaph.” Trump can’t call Judge Wilkinson a “lunatic left wing judge.” He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan.
Trump can continue to defy judges all he likes, but Judge Boasberg has started contempt proceedings against the Trump administration. He won’t be the only one. Judge Boasberg wrote: “The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders-especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it.” Trump need not think he can continue to get away with his lawless behavior. The judges in this country are not having it, and we should be grateful for their intervention. Trump has done nothing in his time in office beyond trying to weaken our democracy.
While Trump is spending his time defying the courts, the resistance against his behavior is growing. Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks, who does not consider himself a “movement” person, wrote: “It’s time for a comprehensive national civil uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement.” That is happening. Other conservatives are taking the gauntlet, as are regular citizens. Rachel Maddow discussed how resistance, when happening all at once, is the best way to get the point across.
Maddow showed clips of people protesting simultaneously across the country. In St. Paul, MN, protesters gathered across the street from the consulate of El Salvador, demanding that the Trump administration return unlawfully deported immigrants. In Santa Rosa, CA, local clergy led a rally against the Trump administration’s immigration policies; in Denver, CO, interfaith leaders held an immigration protest/rally; while in Grand Rapids, protestors rallied against an ICE detention center being built in their community. The list goes on. People are tired of Trump’s authoritarian behavior. People who support Trump’s policies have become paranoid and are calling ICE against citizens of this country whose only crime is being brown. This has got to stop. We don’t want that in this country, and we must speak out against it.
The judiciary is stepping in to stop Trump’s authoritarian behavior, including recently stopping the closure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The courts side with the Constitution, and Trump violates it. Between us and the courts, we will fight Trump’s reign of terror.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years