LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Today, 06:00 AM

‘No Kings’ rally: Lift up democracy

Editor, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer call it a “hate-America rally.” Sen. Roger Marshall labels us professional protesters and agitators. “We’ll have to get the National Guard out,” he said. “Hopefully it will be peaceful. I doubt it.”

I will be at the “No Kings” rally Saturday in front of City Hall on Main Street. None of these quotes remotely describe me or any of the many friends and neighbors I expect to see there.

I want my voice heard in support of the Constitution and its equal application to all.

I want the America I love to exemplify the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

I will be protesting an executive branch that strives for an imbalance of power for itself. I want a better world for my grandchildren.

If the demonization of peaceful participants in a legal rally offends you, too, come and join us for the sake of Democracy. Jeanne Clark Boerne resident

Executive branch resembles dictator

Editor, I think Theodore Roosevelt defended the first amendment well: “To announce that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, it’s not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

What President Trump is doing to censor critics and using his Justice Department to threaten and investigate his critics is a blatant violation of his oath to “protect and defend the Constitution.” It is no coincidence that this right is the First Amendment.

President Trump has also violated the Emolument Clause in the Constitution, which prohibits federal office holders from receiving any gift, payment or other object or service of value from a foreign state or its rulers, officers or representatives.

But, as President Trump mused, “A lot of people are saying, maybe we’d like a dictator.”

He behaves as if he is above the law. And a demonstrably partisan SCOTUS actually granted him immunity from prosecution. A leader who can do whatever he wants, including criminal acts, is a dictator.

Finally, it is frightening for a president to employ a secretive, masked army, i.e., ICE. We must not delude ourselves that this is normal in a democracy, or that it would never be used against law abiding citizens.

President Trump is already normalizing National Guard deployments to cities without the consent of governors.

These facts lead rational people on the left and right (not the wing nuts on either end of the political spectrum) to worry about any wannabe authoritarian president.

These people must join together to ensure that democracy prevails. God bless America.