Trump Finds 'Insurrection' Only When it's Not His Own
According to Axios, Trump vowed to deploy troops to stop 'professional agitators' after an ICE agent shot a driver in Minneapolis and protests erupted. Governor Walz called it an 'occupation.' One might wonder why federal agents are involved in local policing, or why the definition of 'insurrection' seems to shift dramatically depending on whose supporters are storming government buildings versus
whose dissent is being quelled. The historical record shows the Insurrection Act is rarely used, usually in extreme situations, not when an administration wants to silence protest against its own agents' fatal actions. It appears the 'rule of law' is less about justice and more about controlling narratives and quashing resistance when it threatens the powerful. This selective application of terms
like 'insurrection' and 'agitators' isn't new; it's a classic tactic to dehumanize opposition and justify state violence. Apparently, some insurrections are more equal than others (especially if they happen to be in Washington D.C. on January 6th, 2021).