Trump Prepares Troops, Blames 'Antifa' for Protests Not Yet Here
The Independent details how the Trump administration and its allies are already conjuring the 'Antifa boogeyman' weeks ahead of planned 'No Kings' protests, simultaneously deploying the National Guard. This isn't new; it's a well-worn playbook for dealing with dissent. From the bonus army marchers in 1932 to Civil Rights activists and Vietnam War protesters labeled 'communists,' the state has a
long, documented history of militarizing against its own citizens and delegitimizing their concerns by inventing shadowy, monolithic threats. One might wonder, how many times must 'disruptive elements' (or 'bad hombres', 'radical Islamic terrorists,' 'Antifa') be blamed before the public sees the pattern? The media, in its eagerness to report the latest sensational accusation, often omits this
critical historical context. They present 'Antifa' as a credible organization, rather than a loose anti-fascist movement, thereby legitimizing the pretext for federal intervention and the suppression of constitutional rights. It's almost as if some narratives are pre-written, ready to be deployed whenever public protest threatens the status quo, regardless of the protest's actual intent or
participants. This pre-crime approach to protest, blaming phantom groups for future actions, raises serious questions about the right to assemble in America.