1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am outraged by the ongoing weaponisation of ICE, the DOJ and HSI to go after those Trump perceives as his enemies and opponents. It began with him chanting "lock her up" about Hillary Clinton. With the villification of the press, socially vulnerable people, immigrants, and civic workers. With the establishment of an unofficial state-related religious sect. It continued with the arrest of Rep LaMonica McIver for doing her constitutional duty and the prosecution of James Comey for posting a photo of some seashells on a beach, arranged to spell a common waitstaff expression. With arresting visitors to our nation for partaking in freedom of speech. With unwarranted raids on residents. And shootings in the streets. And now HSI have searched the apartment of Rep Ilhan Omar-- with no crime listed on the warrant. They claim privilege of office for themselves despite waiving their own privilege by failing at good behavior. And they refuse it to those who have maintained their privilege with good behavior. I am outraged and you should be too. Using the machinery of the government to intimidate political rivals and dissidents is illegal, unconstitutional, unethical, and indefensible. This pattern has a name. Demonizing dissidents, political opponents, and anyone perceived to be socially vulnerable, particularly immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBQT+ people, people with diverse religions, and racialized people groups. Shifting power from normal channels to private citizens or irregularly nominated officials. Concentrating power in the executive. Demonizing and regulating the press. Book burning or restricting access to ideas. Strong message of patriotism via assimilation. Show of force in the streets. When you put these things together, the system those cues identify is fascism. What's more alarming is extra-judicial containment camps, sometimes outside the borders: this is the formal definition of concentration camps. My friends, fascism is not a foreign or isolated phenomenon. America has always had fascism in the systems that promote and sustain racism and eugenics. These systems include the obvious but have more expressions than one would expect. Once you learn to recognize these patterns, you can't unsee it. And it is accelerated at this time. You must speak up. You must continue to counter, delay, and stymie the party in power. And you must look to your own party even if it’s the minority party. In what way is your party complacent in the face of evil? In what way does your party routinely, though perhaps without realizing, assist these patterns to persist? Every member of congress (including house reps on their paid holiday) needs to use all the platforms they have to condemn this. Every member. Democratic, independent, or republican. Silence is compliance. I will support a primary candidate who understands and articulates these things over any incumbent who does not.