Let’s Talk About The Use of Fear and The Insurrection Act
QUICK READ: While the Trump administration has not yet implemented the dangerous Insurrection Act, we must prepare for this eventuality by constructing a detailed response to prevent fear tactics from dividing us and by being ready to demand our MOCs immediately challenge this abuse of power.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
As of 5pm on April 21, the MAGA Trump administration has not decided whether to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, an exception to the prohibition against domestic deployment of federal troops—despite Trump’s earlier declaration of a national emergency at the southern border and instructions to Secretaries Noem (Homeland Security) and Hegseth(Defense) to recommend by April 20 whether that justified its implementation.
The Act, which allows the federal government to use the military to quell rebellions and insurrections when local jurisdictions cannot keep the peace, was never meant to be used to silence dissent, bulldoze civil liberties, or arrest immigrants “ under the guise of maintaining order” and “securing the southern border.”
But this is exactly how Trump wants to use it, which could take human rights violations committed by ICE against immigrants to the next level by creating a federal military force—an American Gestapo—authorized to round up, arrest, and imprison noncitizens and citizens alike without cause or due processHow we must respond:
· Publicize what the Act does and why it matters;
· Construct a detailed resistance plan to prevent MAGA Republicans from using fear to divide us;
· Push our MOCs to attack this abuse of power immediately with press conferences, legal challenges, and continuing public pressure;
· Demand states preemptively call out their National Guards to prevent a federal takeover.
· Remind everyone the real “insurrectionists” were those showing up on January 6th who Trump pardoned.
After the Nazis invoked similar powers in 1933, they suspended the German constitution, individual rights, and due process. We know better this time around.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
SCRIPT FOR Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If the Trump administration enacts the very dangerous Insurrection Act, we cannot allow fear to divide us. You must immediately challenge all Trumps abuses of power and relentlessly keep up the pressure.
FURTHER READING
https://indivisible.org/resource/could-trump-invoke-insurrection-act-what-know-and-how-prepare
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-insurrection-act
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/reichstag-fire-decree
https://ghdi.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=2325
https://policy.defense.gov/portals/11/documents/hdasa/references/insurrection_act.pdf
