Ink Tea Stone Leaf

The President is attempting a military occupation of Los Angeles; his secretary of Homeland Security is calling it a “liberation” from their duly elected mayor and governor. Her goons put handcuffs on a United States Senator and wrestled him to the ground for daring to confront her with questions.

I understand the President’s poll numbers may have been rising lately. So it goes.

Tomorrow, he’s planning to put on a grand military parade for his birthday. He says it’s for the Army’s birthday, but you really don’t have to believe the excuses he offers for every increment toward totalitarianism. I promise you, you don’t even have to consider them. He lost the benefit of the doubt years ago.

But some people approve of that. They think what this country needs is an iron hand, and we can always go back to having civil liberties again when he’s done, if we feel like it. I’m sure that will work out exactly how they expect.

When I was a child in school, I learned that the most important consequence of the American Revolution was that we were no longer bound to a monarchy. We were free to choose our own leader, whose powers were constrained by law and who served (rather than reigned) for a handful of years. No man of whatever family lineage was entitled to reign over us, because we are a people of law and no man is above the law.

Many of these free people didn’t really pay attention in school, and can’t really tell you what “the rule of law” means. They just know they like a President who makes fun of people while he violates their constitutional rights. It makes him relatable.

Donald Trump says he doesn’t “feel like” a king, on account of how hard it is to get his lawless actions to go forward when everybody keeps suing his administration. Certainly, his defenders will point to the fact that he does not wear a crown, or wield a scepter, or cut a dashing figure in a purple robe lined with ermine or other such luxurious furs. Not that he wouldn’t, but he doesn’t, so all of this talk of kings is just liberal fear-mongering to be met with the mockery of AI slop images of King Donald I in regal aspect—because there’s no reason their glorious leader shouldn’t get to “feel like” a king.

Another thing I learned as a child in school is that when Octavian became Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, the word rex (that’s Latin for king, you know) was too controversial to claim, and he took steps to avoid being labeled as such. He was the leader of Rome on account of several different kinds of authority; he was consul, tribune, censor, praetor, pontifex maximus (high priest), imperator (commander) and princeps (“First Citizen”), but never rex, a word which would make it impossible to maintain the fiction that Rome was still ruled by constitutional law and not by the authority of a single man. There were some hiccups along the way, and there were grumblings that he held all these positions in perpetuity after they had previously been limited to short terms, but there were enough people who believed that Rome needed his iron hand in that moment to ensure that upon his death he could pass all of these titles to his designated heir.

So the fact that Donald Trump doesn’t formally call himself king, or wear a crown, doesn’t mean he doesn’t aim to be what a king is: an end to the republic, and an end to the principle that the law is binding on everybody. Kings in fact are what we oppose.

It is an unfortunate thing that many of our people do not really believe in the rule of law, or believe it is worth upholding even when it means a Democrat wins an election. They believe in something else: they call it “law and order,” and it means that people who oppose the power of the man they aren’t ready to call king just yet get brutalized by police. Where other Americans honor the principles of universal suffrage and equal protection under the law, they revere instead the man with the big gun and the bulletproof vest.

On that tangent, I read a story yesterday about how the state police of Oregon, where I live, were recruiting members for the SWAT team with sentences like “are you jonesing to fire 40mm less lethal rounds and gas munitions through windows, gables, cameras, and at fleeing suspects?” or “How about tossing diversions (flash bangs) or launching gas cannisters with a shotgun launcher? Anyone want to shoot some pepperball into vehicles or basements or crawlspaces or the attics of houses to flush out hiding suspects?”

That’s the “blue” the President’s people back, in their own words: the people who want to enforce “law and order” because it means they get to wear special uniforms and shoot people in the back. Doesn’t everybody want to wear a uniform and shoot people in the back? Isn’t becoming an instrument of the state’s capacity for violence the greatest honor in life?

These are the people who want a king, even if they won’t admit it.

So how can we stop this madness? First, let’s temper our expectations: it is not any one person’s job to put a stop to tyranny, and neither is it within the power of any one person to do this. This nation will turn away from complacency towards dictatorship when a critical mass of its citizens resist it, and follow that resistance through with democratic action to root out the extremists who are hollowing out our republican form of government.

Some of you will be attending protests today, and many days after today, and this is a brave and noble thing to do. But as your fellow citizen I want to remind you that, while we must resist firmly, we must resist over a great length of time. Donald Trump and everything he represents will not be defeated by a reckless maneuver of whatever symbolic significance on a single day. The police are on his side, and they are armed, and they are perfectly willing to hurt you. Don’t run any unnecessary risks.

My local Democratic party sent me an email today with tips on how to keep yourself safe while protesting against injustice. I would like to end this post by reproducing that email now. Best of luck to you, and best of luck to everybody who is most at risk over these next four years.

If you’re planning to attend a protest soon, it’s essential to prioritize your safety and the safety of those around you.  Although threats may seem unlikely, not all non-violent protests remain non-violent. Here are some key tips from trusted sources to help you prepare to stay safe in the event of escalation.  We hope you find these recommendations useful.

Before the Protest

Buddy Up: If you can, go with a friend or a group. Plan a familiar meeting spot in case you get separated.

Inform Someone: Let a trusted person know where you are going and what time you expect to return.

Dress Appropriately: Wear neutral clothing without logos or slogans. Light layers are best in case you need to remove clothing quickly. Remember that clothing can be useful in emergencies where you need wound packing or a tourniquet. 

Tie Back Hair: Keep your hair tied back to avoid it getting in your face, being grabbed, or spreading chemical irritants you may be exposed to. 

Skip Makeup and Lotions: Avoid these products as they can trap chemicals and irritants. If using sunscreen, use one that dries down quickly or consider wearing light weight, long sleeve clothing and a hat instead. 

Eyes and Ears: Consider wearing safety or swim goggles to protect your eyes from irritants. Pack ear plugs to protect yourself from loud noises and chaos. 

Stay Hydrated: Bring a water bottle to keep hydrated. (I recommend filling it ⅓ of the way with water and then freezing it, then filling it with water before you go). Avoid taking a water bottle that you care about being able to keep (just in case). 

Snacks: Pack lightweight snacks like nuts or cheese sticks to keep your energy up.

Cash and ID: Carry cash instead of cards, and consider bringing your ID, but know your rights regarding showing it.

Phone Safety: Police can force you to unlock electronics if biometric access is turned on. Turn it off and use a passcode instead. (Note: on Android, there’s a “lockdown” option that disabled biometrics. On iPhone, you can choose to call emergency services when you press and hold the side button and either volume button, or by pressing the side button five times).

Write Emergency Contacts: Use a permanent marker to write emergency phone numbers on your skin. (You can remove these later with baby oil, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover).

During the Protest

Stay Aware: Keep an eye on your surroundings and be alert to any changes in the crowd.

Avoid Running: If things get chaotic, move calmly to the edge of the crowd instead of running.

Avoid Confrontation: If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, it’s okay to leave the area.

Help Others: If someone is in distress, assist them if you can do so safely.

If You Encounter Police

Stay Calm: Keep your hands visible and don’t make sudden movements.

Ask Questions: If stopped, ask what crime you are suspected of. Remind them that you are exercising your rights.

Know Your Rights: You have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer if detained.

Do Not Consent to Searches: You do not have to allow police to search you or your belongings.

Document Events: If you witness police actions, you have the right to film them. You can stream live to Facebook or another platform to make sure that police aren’t able to delete the video. If you can, try to be discreet while capturing badge numbers, names, and faces. You can narrate what you’re seeing if needed. 

Seek Legal Help: If you believe your rights have been violated, gather information to file a complaint later.

If You Are Detained or Arrested: power your phone off or turn on airplane mode to preserve the battery. Turning it off also ensures that no one can access your data. 

Sources and recommended reading: 

ACLU. n.d. “Protesters’ Rights | American Civil Liberties Union.” ACLU. Accessed June 11, 2025. https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights.

ACLU Oregon. n.d. “Know Your Rights: First Amendment Protections.” ACLU of Oregon. Accessed 06 11, 2025. https://www.aclu-or.org/en/know-your-rights-first-amendment-protections.

Strampe, Louryn, Lauren Goode, and Boone Ashworth. 2025. “How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid.” WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-gear-tips/.