By Mary Alice Miller
Trump’s 21st century version of President Richard Nixon’s ‘enemies list’ is filled with Black people and Black people’s interests.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook was notified that Trump called for her to resign via his social media app over allegations of mortgage fraud. Later, Trump wrote a letter stating, “You are hereby removed from your position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, effective immediately.”
“President Trump purported to fire me ‘for cause’ when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022,” said Cook in a statement.
Trump has turned his attacks on museums he considers ‘woke’, including the Smithsonian Museum of African History and Culture. Trump said “they are out of control, where everything discussed is how horrible our country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.”
In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, Trump has ordered a review of the nation’s museums to ensure they “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
First it was Los Angeles. Then it was Washington, D.C. Next on Trump’s list is Chicago, Baltimore, and New York City. Trump has visions of using the National Guard to take over cities that happen to be led by Black mayors with large Black and Brown populations.
Trump claims the National Guard is needed in these cities to address crime. But crime is statistically down in these cities. Trump has developed a plan to create Guard units to quell civil unrest.
Trump brought the National Guard to Los Angeles allegedly to protect ICE agents who were sweeping up perceived undocumented immigrants. Many caught in the sweep were United States citizens, so much so that a federal judge ordered ICE to not arrest people based on their skin color, language or place of employment.
The National Guard was deployed recently in Washington, D.C. purportedly to reduce crime, but Trump also railed against homelessness in the nation’s capitol.
The American Constitution Society (ACS), based in Washington, D.C., issued a statement condemning “President Trump’s misuse of law enforcement and our military to create a federal police state in our Nation’s capital and undermine civil liberties and constitutional rights.”
“The administration’s attempt to take over the D.C. Metropolitan Police and its deployment of the National Guard and federal law enforcement agencies undermine the civil liberties and constitutional rights of those living in and visiting our Nation’s capital,” the ACS stated on its website.
The ACS statement continued, “We commend D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb for suing to block the administration’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes for pushing the city and Justice Department to reach an agreement that allows D.C. to retain control of its police department. This doesn’t resolve all the issues with Trump’s efforts to exert control over the Metropolitan Police but demonstrates that the judiciary is taking seriously its role in holding the administration accountable.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights issued an open letter on behalf of 126 organizations expressing “profound concerns with the recent decision by President Trump to assert control over the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and to deploy the National Guard throughout the city. This unprecedented and needless takeover of a local government’s law enforcement mechanisms poses a dire threat to public safety as well as to civil and human rights, not only of the people who live in D.C., but ultimately throughout the entire country.”
The open letter continued, “President Trump has once again declared a false emergency to access executive powers that were not meant to be used as political tools to amass power. It is a terrible precedent that could harm cities, communities, and people well beyond D.C. What he is able to achieve in D.C., he will try to do elsewhere. He has already threatened to do the same in other major cities around the country. Time and time again, he has shown that his real goal is to create a police state, as he has repeatedly weaponized law enforcement to quash dissent and to serve his own personal and political ends.”
“This is exactly the type of overreach that our country’s founders warned against. What Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. It is un-American,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzer, calling Trump a “wannabe dictator.”
Pritzker added, “We have made no requests for federal intervention. None. We found out what Trump was planning the same way all of you did. We read a story in the Washington Post.”
“The guard is not needed. This is not the role of our military.
The brave men and women who signed up to serve our country did not sign up to occupy American cities,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “What he’s proposing at this point would be the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st century. The city of Chicago does not need a military occupation.”
Edwin Yohnka, American Civil Liberties Union director of communications and public policy for the Illinois branch, said Trump will need a valid reason to deploy the National Guard in Chicago.
“There’s a higher barrier for the president to send National Guard into Chicago [than into D.C.], because there has to be a reason or he has to have the agreement of the governor of the state of Illinois,” said Yohnka. “And clearly, from what we see, he’s not going to have that. He’s going to have to articulate a reason for doing it. I think that reason will be challenged by the state of Illinois.”
“The president listed cities that are all led by black mayors. It’s no coincidence, though, that these are cities that have large populations of black and brown people,” said Oakland Mayor and former Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “These are cities, all of these cities where the crime rates are going down. These are the cities that happen to be led by black mayors. What is this about?”
Oakland Council member Carol Fife said, “If you care about safety, Mr. Convicted Felon in the White House, if you can, if you care about law and order, you would know that the safest cities have the most resources.”
‘Regarding Trump floating the idea of bringing the National Guard to New York City, Governor Hochul said, “I will look at all my powers. But I have a feeling that right around that time, my National Guard might be really busy on other issues.”
“This is the safest big city in America. And you are seeing the numbers continue to decrease,” said Mayor Adams. “If the federal government wants to partner with us to go after some real laws to stop dangerous people from having guns, those with mental health issues getting access to guns, we look forward to having that coordination.”
“Trump is trying to do whatever he can to set Black people off,” said Dawson, a central Brooklyn building maintenance manager. “But, we are not falling for it.”
