Don’t Use the Insurrection Act to Steal Our Constitutional Rights

If he is re-elected Donald Trump has suggested he may send the military into US cities to suppress legitimate protests. While there are laws against using the military on US soil in non-emergency situations, these laws can be bypassed under the Insurrection Act, which gives the president almost unlimited power to declare a state of emergency anywhere in the country. This power for the most part cannot be challenged in the courts or by Congress. The Insurrection Act also lacks an automatic “sunset,” meaning it could potentially remain in effect for as long as Trump (or any other president) chooses.

While the Insurrection Act, which dates to 1792, has been used legitimately on multiple occasions (such as during the efforts to desegregate schools during the Civil Rights era), Trump and those close to him have hinted that they would instead use this law to deprive average Americans of their basic rights. Allies of Trump had suggested using the Act to put down racial justice protests in 2020. Many close to Trump also urged him to use the Act in an attempt to remain in power after he lost the election that same year.
.
We vow to take to the streets in peaceful, nonviolent protest should the president invoke the Insurrection Act to suppress the rights of US citizens and anyone else anywhere on US soil. We further vow to remain on the streets in protest until the president ends any inappropriate, unconstitutional use of the Insurrection Act.