excerpted from A Roundup of Escalating Fascism at revcom.us.
This past week in particular, in addition to the military takeover of DC and ramped up ICE raids across the country, we cover here how the regime has gone after scientific truth (and scientists themselves); historical memory and truth, artistic conscience, and California Governor Newsom and other Democratic politicians, and has created a 24-hour strike force that can be dispatched anywhere in the country on a moment’s notice.
Read the whole article for more in depth summary and analysis.
Gunfire Hits CDC—an Attack on Scientific Truth and Scientists
On August 8, an anti-vax assassin fired more than 180 shots into several buildings of the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. About 150 windows were shattered by the bullets. A cop was killed, and the anti-vaxer killed himself. This was incredibly dangerous—and could’ve been much, much worse.
As of a week after the CDC attack, Trump has said nothing about it. Contrast that with public show of outrage by Trump at the alleged carjacking of a DOGE operative at the hands of several unarmed teenagers in Washington, DC—and his use of that incident as a part of justifications for the police-military clampdown of the capital city.
White House Orders Whitewashing of Smithsonian Museums
On August 12, the Trump regime took another step in its fascist assault on the Smithsonian Institution—and on historical memory and truth about this country. The regime sent the Smithsonian a letter ordering a “comprehensive internal review” of eight of its museums1 in Washington, DC. The letter demands that the Smithsonian make sure the museums’ exhibits, social media, etc. are in “alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism.”
Turning the Kennedy Center into a Center of Fascist Culture
On August 13, Trump announced that he personally picked this year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors and would host the awards ceremony in December—not because of the recipients contributions to the wider culture, but (with no disrespect to the artists) because—based on his homogenized, American idiocy—he likes them.
An Open Threat of Intimidation Against Newsom and Other Democratic Politicians
Amidst a wave of ICE raids throughout Los Angeles—in ongoing defiance of a court order—ICE descended outside a press conference being held by Governor Gavin Newsom. On Thursday, Newsom was holding a press conference at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. This is a symbolic location that commemorates the internment of people of Japanese descent in World War 2.
Pentagon’s 600-Troop Strike Force Against Cities
When Trump announced that he would be sending federal military troops into Washington, DC, he also threatened he’d do the same for Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Oakland—all Democratic cities with Black mayors.
Now the Pentagon is reportedly making plans to set up a 600-troop “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force” that could be used by Trump against these and other cities at a moment’s notice.
“Fascism is not a looming threat. It is upon us now. Humanity’s only hope is for the decent people of this country to rise in our millions. We cannot wait for future and rigged elections. We must drive the Trump Fascist Regime from power.”