(The Labor Party thanks Angel Heaven Lee, host of the Breaking Barriers podcast, for voicing this post. Hear The Labor Party’s Media Secretary, Neel Sawicky, talk about the mission and platform of the party on a recent Breaking Barriers episode, and how you can get involved, here.)
Happy Flag Day, everyone.
Happy anniversary to the United States Army, which celebrates 250 years of defending this nation, its people, and its democratic ideals.
Happy Benedict Arnold Meets His Demise Day, which we here at the Labor Party recognize because we think it’s important to remind traitors of the consequences of their perfidious deeds.
And happy No King’s Day.
Across the United States of America later today, thousands of rallies will welcome millions of protesters who believe in the uniquely American concept of We the People.
On the day set aside to honor our flag, the symbol of our freedom and unity, the president of these united states will preside over a parade that resembles a Cold War Soviet show of force or dictatorial North Korean display of citizen intimidation.
On the eve of our country’s 250th birthday, when colonists once loyal to Britain’s king declared themselves free from his oppression, an American president seeks to wear the mantle of a monarch amidst the trappings of tyranny.
In the long history of American government and politics, the Labor Party is new to the game. We’re very much in our infancy, but we know what we stand for.
We take the words of the Declaration of Independence (correction: Constitution) very seriously.
It says, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
At this moment in our nation's history, the concept of rule by the people is disappearing faster than an ice cube on a scorching day. Our president acts as though the protections granted by the Constitution and its enumerated rights are little more than suggestions that he can accept when he agrees with them and reject when they don't suit his purposes.
His words and actions are not those of a man who cherishes democracy, but of an opportunist who has amassed a cadre of like-minded minions who have helped him use the limitless opportunities that democracy has afforded him to attack the freedoms of those whom he opposes or those who oppose him.
Unfortunately, labor is once again bearing the brunt of fascist government policy. Labor Party Media Secretary Neil Sawicki reminds us that the American government has a long history of using local and federal forces against those whom they deem unworthy of the right to protest.
Government force in this country has been used on behalf of large and wealthy corporations and their owners, for example, as far back as the 18th century.
The Haymarket Massacre, Blair Mountain, the Bread and Roses Strike. In all these instances and many others, government agencies were complicit in the use of deadly force to put down labor strikes and protests, either by direct police or military involvement, or by protecting for-hire security forces.
It’s why the Labor Party is adamant about getting big money out of American politics. It is an unholy alliance that is bad for working people and 99% of all Americans. And it's why we hold both parties’ feet to the fire on that issue, both Democrats and Republicans.
Barely a month after May Day, when labor organizations remember the blood spilled and the lives lost in the centuries-long fight for labor rights, current events show the government continues to wield its weapons of choice to tamp down any form of resistance.
Service International Employees Association Union President David Huerta found himself injured and on the ground at a Los Angeles protest of roundups of immigrantlaborers in Los Angeles.
His arrest sparked the days of protest in that city that resulted in a force of more than 4,000 National Guards and Marines being stationed there. (4,700 at the time of this post)
Trump and his administration make it clear that they are free to determine what constitutes an acceptable protest and what does not. And clearly, protests in favor of workers do not.
The flashpoint as no King’s Day dawns is the administration's immigration crackdown and mass deportations scheme.
It is waging a campaign of violence and intimidation. Agents with Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, known as ICE, no longer are required by their bosses to identify themselves or even wear a uniform. They freely invade homes and protected places such as schools and hospitals to kidnap their targets and violate their rights to due process.
Their actions would be considered crimes — kidnapping, breaking and entering, stalking, and assault — if anyone else did the same.
Trump has created his own Gestapo, outside any rules of engagement or standardized practice, and seemingly immune to the protections afforded by America’s Constitution to citizens as well as to immigrants regardless of their means of entry to this country.
Their due process rights are being trampled. ICE agents are using racial profiling to stop them in traffic or round them up at home improvement stores where day laborers gather in hopes that contractors will offer a day’s pay.
These raids often result in arrests where no probable cause exists and where no warrant was issued.
America has gone far beyond the family separation policy, cages-at-the-border and hunting-down-asylum-seekers-with-dogs stage of immigration enforcement. America is now exporting people deemed “illegal alien criminals,” with no court hearing, to a labor camp in El Salvador, or hellhole prisons in Libya or Sudan, to never be seen or heard from again.
This is why the Labor Party is sharing the No Kings Rally plans.
These actions are not the actions of a democratic American government that believes in and abides by the rule of law.
These are the actions of a tyrannical leader who worships power and intends to wield it absolutely, refusing to answer to the co-equal branches of government that were devised by our nation’s founders to curb those authoritarian impulses.
Today is also Donald Trump’s birthday. It’s why he’s chosen to make the Flag Day -Army Anniversary Parade all about himself. It’s further proof that he believes his personal story, his personal aggrandizement, is more important than the honor of our military, the country, or the 340 million of us who call this our home and are given the right by the Constitution to make the decisions around here.
No King’s Day is about telling him he’s wrong.
If you'll be out protesting this day, we are with you in spirit, and we honor your commitment to the ideals of this nation.
We urge you to be cautious and safe, and we celebrate your bravery.
The Labor Party thanks the many members who participated in our month-long exploration of the many ways we oppose a king in America. From Media Secretary Neel Sawicky, who provided the backbone of this audio script, to members who contributed text posts to this Substack, to the content creators who recorded podcasts and edited videos … together, we are strong.
Counting down to No Kings Day
30 days: Colonists’ breakup letter to King George defines our rights
29 days: Tyranny masquerades as immigration reform
28 days: “No kings, just men.” Labor Party member’s TikTok video
27 days: The Boss says ‘You’re not the boss of me’
26 days: America is not a theocracy
23 days: Labor unions despise tyranny
22 days: Does Donald Trump even know it’s Memorial Day?
21 days: Labor Party members and thoughts about No Kings, Part 1 and Part 2
11 days: Trump fashions himself a king; we all know better
7 days: As tanks roll into DC, ICE wages war on our cities
6 days: Labor stands with a real president to his people, David Huerta
3 days: Authoritarian math: Count the lawsuits from Labor against Trump
2 days: Day 140 in the Trump administration, chaos on full display
Today: No throne. No crown. No kings.
(In a series that began on May 15, The Labor Party offered posts here and on our other social media platforms about our position on Donald Trump’s big, military-style birthday parade on June 14. The content was meant to be a lead-up to the nationwide protests organized by a number of pro-Democratcy organizations under the banner of No Kings. These protests will display just how deeply Americans oppose the idea of returning — after 250 years of freedom — to subjugation by a king. The Labor Party’s inception, much like that of this nation, was a response to the threat of tyranny. It is built by and for working people. We fight for policies that put people over profits. Ours is a grassroots movement fighting for real change. For inquiries, contact Labor Party Media Secretary Neel Sawicky at media@votelabor.org.)
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