History Repeats
I wrote this post nearly five years ago. Citizens in Portland, Oregon, had been peacefully protesting police brutality. They were advocating against the unequal treatment of people of color for more than 50 days. Federal officers then used gas and pellet guns. They used force without the consent of the mayor of Portland or the governor of Oregon.
In Los Angeles, protests persisted for two days against the Trump administration’s immigration and deportation policies. These protests were primarily over the reintroduction of family detentions and mass workplace raids. Then on June 10, 2025, Trump ordered the federalization of the California National Guard and deployed 600 to 800 U.S. Marines into the streets of Los Angeles.
The militarized actions of the authoritarian president are not new. Here is a full copy of my description of his attacks on Portland’s citizens five years ago.
Oregon, 2020
The President of the United States is sending stormtroopers into American cities. Hundreds of camouflaged armed troops have used force against legal protesters. They did this without any invitation or consent of the governor of Oregon or the mayor of Portland. The protesters are not breaking the law by protesting police brutality and the unequal treatment of people of color. These stormtroopers are not there to help local law enforcement, but instead use aggressive force against protesters. Trump announced today that he is sending his stormtroopers to Chicago. This decision comes after a shooting that wounded 14 people. Again, with any local consent.
Trump is using this tactic to manipulate the right of American citizens to protest. They have the right to protest on the streets, outside, or inside buildings. It is a citizen right to do this in the United States. Yet, Trump’s administration is claiming that “lawlessness” exists in these cities. He’s ready to attack the “lawless” with armed stormtroopers. People are outraged. We all should be outraged.
Stormtroopers in Portland
The Oregonian (OREGONLIVE) published a report today, the 55th day of protests. It’s titled “Portland protests continue Tuesday as federal officers use gas, force on hundreds gathered downtown.” In particular, follow this link to see images of these stormtroopers as they attack protesters.
Using Paramilitary–Trump’s Brownshirts
Donald Trump is using paramilitary stormtroopers to scare the sh** out of Americans living in America’s cities, especially those that have Democratic governors. The red state cities are safe. But, blue and purple states are in for it.
In 1921, Adolph Hitler and Ernst Röhm used stormtroopers, a paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. They helped Hitler rise in the 1920s and 1930s and keep power. Their uniforms were brown-colored shirts, mainly because they were cheap. They were called Sturmabteilung (SA). They were used to disrupt the meetings of opposing parties, fighting against protesters (Red Front Fighters League of the Communist party of German, Romani, trade unionists, and especially Jews. Eventually, these paramilitary troops were called “Brownshirts,” from the color of their uniforms. Mussolini had blackshirts.
Donald Trump and Chad Wolf, acting secretary of Homeland Security, are using paramilitary officers in Portland. They have also threatened to use them in other American cities. Although they aren’t brown or black shirts, instead they are disguised to deceive an “enemy” with their military camouflage. For some time, these stormtroopers used no visible identification. Now, I have noticed that they have SCF on their shirts. SCF is the Surge Capacity Force of Homeland Security, established in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In particular, they are supposed to help. Trump is using them to terrorize American cities that are peacefully protesting.
Now, in 2025, Trump has authorized the use of the United States Marines in Los Angeles.
Source of lead photograph: Dave Killen, The Oregonian
You must be logged in to post a comment.