Senator Alex Padilla of California was assaulted and manhandled for interrupting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference and having the audacity to ask her questions.

This is what happens in fascist regimes.

It didn’t matter that Alex Padilla is a sitting Senator from the most populous state in the country, or that he was civil, or that he identified himself, or that he is the ranking member of the Judiciary’s subcommittee on immigration, citizenship, and border safety.

Federal agents saw a brown man and went to work.

That means immediately using violence and force against fellow Americans who look like “DEI hires” and terrorizing communities of color. That’s what’s happening in LA right now as 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines are helping ICE round up citizens and residents without due process and warrants.

None of this is normal, but it has already been normalized for the past year by corporate media and establishment Democrats who allowed pro-Palestinian activists to be smeared, harassed, and arrested. These students, like Mahmoud Khalil, have been detained without any criminal charges. Immigrants, such as Abrego Kilmar Garcia, were kidnapped and deported to a foreign gulag without due process.

Some people, including Democratic Senators, thought their wealth, power, and privilege would protect them. If so, they were mistaken and need to see the video of Senator Padilla being assaulted and handcuffed. They can also see the footage of Newark Mayor Baraka being arrested by ICE agents, armed agents pointing guns at an 86-year-old Rep. Watters, and Rep. Nadler’s aide being handcuffed. Rep. Jeffries said Democrats would "respond in a time, place, and manner of our choosing" & the response would "be continuous and it will meet the moment.”

Well, here’s the moment, Democrats.

Here’s the moment, fellow Americans.

We’re in it now.

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for the fight of our beleaguered democracy as tanks are rolling the streets of the nation’s capital in advance of Trump’s military parade.

What more do people need to see? How many norms must be broken? How many communities must be terrorized? This is a fascist regime that is playing for all the marbles. It’s time to take Trump literally and seriously. You can be civil with fascists who only promise to deliver more cruelty. You cannot be objective and neutral during an authoritarian crackdown.

Inaction is not only cowardice, but also complicity.

In this emergency Democracy-ish session, I invited my co-host Danielle Moodie to join me to discuss this breaking news and connect the dots. Thanks to the 1,600 people who joined at the last second.

Thank you

Get more from THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app