Thread by @FluteMagician

1) Ok, so now I’m going to unpack this police state package. And I have to unpack the whole executive order, because ALL of it is bad for the First Amendment. Unprecedented, in fact. So it’s going to be a long thread. But you need to see what this says. So let’s begin⬇️

2) It starts like this. This is him alluding to a Heritage Foundation theory about “Unitary Executive Power”. In a nutshell, the president can do unconstitutional things because the Constitution gives him the power to do so. Let’s continue⬇️

3) And there’s the usual excuse for unconstitutional and illegal acts—“National Security”. Here’s where Homeland Security becomes exactly what civil liberties advocates feared it would when it was created after 9/11: a secret police and internal security force. Let’s continue⬇️

4) Notice they mention things people SAID after the Kirk shooting under the heading of “domestic terrorism and organized political violence.” And protests in Los Angeles called “riots”. It gets much worse, so let’s keep going⬇️

5) Here they actually lie and say “anti-police and criminal justice riots have left many people dead.” But again, they’re calling protests as “riots”. Let’s continue⬇️

6) Read this. Basically, they’re saying any protests they deem to be “political violence” are now illegal. And if they are organized by any person or group, then they, too, are to be investigated and arrested. Let’s keep going⬇️

7) See that word “dehumanizing”? That’s the word Homeland Security uses to say what calling ICE “Gestapo” or “Nazis”, or “fascists” is. Social media is mentioned. And they’re claiming all of it is a conspiracy to obstruct the government (ICE)—just by calling them names. And⬇️

8) Here’s where it gets creepy. Now they’re going to protect the right wing Christian churches from criticism. And so those churches can continue targeting LGBTQ people and abortion clinics with impunity and no one can criticize them for it. Let’s continue⬇️

9) So they’re building a case to charge people arrested at protests with terrorism and probably other federal crimes. Let’s continue⬇️

10) See that first underlined part? Have you seen the movie “Minority Report”? They plan to arrest people for “crimes” before they commit them. This will also be how they shut down planned protests before the day of the protest. That other underlined part I’ll get to later. And⬇️

11) There’s “conspiracy against rights” again. And I’ll get to that later. But see “intimidation designed to suppress lawful political activity”? That means protesting GOP Congresspeople at town hall meetings or protesting Trump himself. Let’s see more about this one next⬇️

12) When they say “or obstruct rule of law”, they’re referring to protests against ICE. They’re obviously planning a crackdown on those and charging those arrested with terrorism. Let’s continue⬇️

13) Here you see that EVERYONE is at risk. Individuals, organizations, institutions, NGOs, and employees of organizations. These are the “terrorist networks” you’ve heard them talking about. “Terrorist networks” defined by THEM, meaning anyone opposing them politically. And⬇️

14) Here’s where they will enlist a broad spectrum of federal law enforcement agencies (and there’s more than you realize.) Plus, they want to demand cooperation from state and local law enforcement agencies. Let’s continue⬇️

15) See that highlighted part? They’re going to charge everyone with federal crimes to the maximum extent. You’re talking 20 years in prison in some cases. Could they seek the death penalty? At this point, it’s possible. In fact, let’s take a short detour next⬇️

16) This executive order came out at the same time. See that highlighted part? It’s similar to what’s said in post 15 of this thread. Trump is using DC as his “test run” for the police state. So now let’s return to the executive order on “domestic terrorism” next⬇️

17) Underlined again is the “Minority Report” actions they plan to take against everything they say is “domestic terrorism and political violence” even when it’s legitimate First Amendment protected protest and speech. How? Let’s continue with this one⬇️

18) They will call protests “rioting”, “trespass”, and “civil disorder”. Speech they don’t like will be called “threats of violence”. And regarding the speech they don’t like, here comes the Minority Report you see underlined in red. Let’s continue⬇️

19) Here they plan to go after the money of dissenters and organizations that oppose Trump. Now, they’re going to use RICO to do this which is also in the executive order as you will see. So let’s keep going⬇️

20) They’re going to get the IRS involved, too. This one is probably to target the “liberal” churches involved in migrant advocacy to remove their tax-exempt status as churches. But also humanitarian aid organizations. And to prosecute them. Let’s continue⬇️

21) Here they can arrest anyone they accuse, interrogate them, and force them to start giving up names. Waterboarding? The Bush administration got away with it, so why can’t they? Why else have they mentioned interrogation? There’s “conspiracy against rights” again. And⬇️

22) Here you see they plan to use the RICO laws to seize assets and property. Let’s continue⬇️

23) Here they plan to dismantle the entire political opposition against them by deeming all of it as “criminal activity” because “domestic terrorism”. And the president must be given a list of who they have identified. (Meaning people Trump has identified, too.) And⬇️

24) And they’ve declared this a National Priority Area. So this isn’t just something they’re really not serious about. This is Trump’s declaration of war against his political opposition. Now, about the “conspiracy against rights” next⬇️

25) This is what 18 U.S.C. 241; conspiracy against rights says. You see how they can weaponize this to say political opposition prevents them from exercising their rights to say whatever they want to? Notice the death penalty mentioned. And when was this law written? Well⬇️

26) The law was written after the Civil War SPECIFICALLY to target the KKK. Heritage Foundation is good at finding old laws to misconstrue and weaponize to be used in ways they were never intended to be used and against people they were never meant to be used against. And⬇️

27) So, again, this is the law they’re misusing. Plus the executive order itself is a de facto law they made up. I would strongly recommend everyone start reading this executive order and start getting the word out about it to the press and Congress.