Trump, Anti-ICE Protests, and George Floyd Summer

As anti-ICE protests continue to spread, it might be useful to keep the George Floyd summer in mind. Right-wing strategist Christopher Rufo has already recommended that Trump send unmarked vans out to follow and abduct activists away from protests and out of the public eye, which was what DHS did in Portland in 2020. Recall also in that city the extra-judicial execution carried out by the DOJ and publicly acclaimed by US Attorney General Bill Barr.Trump deployed BORTAC, DHS police, and federal marshals on American streets when he was prevented from using the military. As with so many things, the current administration is determined to be unconstrained. The fact that National Guard and Marines have already been deployed means that state repression may be much worse this time.

The summer of 2020 also saw the rise of a mass counter-mobilization of armed right-wing vigilantes fueled by widespread outrage misinformation across social media, which we are already seeing again. Decentralized militias popped up everywhere. Kyle Rittenhouse is the most infamous example, but there were over 800 attacks that summer, nearly ten of them fatal vehicular assaults. That fascist movement from below became the popular basis for the January 6 riots.

But both Trump’s authoritarian response to BLM protests that summer and the public presence of 3 Percenters, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys etc. helped turn public sentiment against Trump going into the fall as he was increasingly blamed for the chaos and violence of those months.
Those who scold protestors for disruptive tactics don’t have a solid basis for their criticism. The highly visible invasion of communities, courthouses, and workplaces by Kevlar-clad, fully armed ICE agents is bringing thousands more into the streets – evidence that militant resistance is contagious right now.