'What Authoritarianism Looks Like': Trump Condemned as Busloads of US
Soldiers Arrive in Nation's Capital
"The numbers of U.S. military security forces in D.C. right now is just
ridiculous. This is pure intimidation. Trump is very afraid. The longer we
stay in the streets, the more frightened he gets."
byJake Johnson, staff writer
Protesters watch as members of the U.S. military walk off a bus near the
White House on June 3, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via
Getty Images)
As President Donald Trump faces growing criticism from veterans and some
ex-military leaders-including his former Defense Secretary Gen. Jim
Mattis-for deploying U.S. troops against peaceful protesters, busloads of
soldiers arrived in the nation's capital on Wednesday in what critics warned
is part of the White House's effort to intimidate and squash nationwide
demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd.
More than 10 tour buses filled with troops pulled up in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday afternoon after Pentagon chief Mark Esper-who just hours earlier
balked at Trump's threat to use active-duty forces to confront
protesters-reversed his order sending soldiers home from the capital region
following a meeting at the White House.
"It is unclear if Esper met with President Donald Trump," the Associated
Press reported.
The buses arrived as demonstrations in the nation's capital and across the
country continued to grow even in the face of brutality from police and
members of the National Guard.
"The numbers of U.S. military security forces in D.C. right now is just
ridiculous. This is pure intimidation," Tim Shorrock, correspondent for The
Nation, tweeted in response to a video of troops lining up in the capital.
"Trump is very afraid. The longer we stay in the streets, the more
frightened he gets."
"This is what authoritarianism looks like," added journalist Ben Norton.
"After decades of waging war across the planet, the U.S. empire is waging
war directly on its own people."
The busloads of U.S. troops reached D.C. after Mattis-who has been largely
silent about Trump's abuses of power since resigning from his Pentagon post
in December of 2018-released a statement condemning the president's use of
soldiers to "violate the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens" in
order to "provide a bizarre photo-op for the elected commander-in-chief,
with military leadership standing alongside."
"We must reject any thinking of our cities as a 'battlespace' that our
uniformed military is called upon to 'dominate,'" Mattis wrote, quoting the
words of Esper and Trump, respectively. "We must reject and hold accountable
those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution."
As Common Dreams reported Tuesday, more than 300 veterans have signed onto
an open letter urging troops to "do the right thing" and refuse orders to
deploy against protesters.
"Today you have to decide whether you are loyal to the values you swore to
uphold or to the commanders who would order you to turn on your neighbors
for demanding justice," the letter reads. "You cannot be loyal to both."
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