The U.S. has been engulfed in widespread protests over the past week, as thousands take to the streets to demand an end to racism and police brutality. The country is desperate for moral leadership, and for compassionate, effective steps to addressing these insidious problems which have victimised black people for generations.
Thus, in reaction to America’s pain, on Monday President Donald Trump “finally appeared in the Rose Garden to calm a troubled nation — by threatening martial law.”
“So in response to protests about police brutality you’re threatening to send in the army to crush them,” said Late Show host Stephen Colbert on Tuesday. “That’s like forgetting your child’s birthday and apologising by sending in the army to crush them.”
Trump has continued to insist that he is an “ally of all peaceful protestors,” even as they’ve been tear gassed and fired upon with rubber bullets outside the White House.
Colbert noted this hypocrisy was particularly egregious on Monday, when police violently dispersed protestors so Trump could “[grope] a Bible” in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Trump doesn’t even go there. According to the church’s bishop, the only time the president had been to the church before Monday was during his inauguration.
“It was memorable, because Trump described it as ‘The biggest crowd in church history, the most prayers, way more prayers than Obama,'” quipped Colbert, imitating Trump. “‘And I ate all of the little crackers — kinda dry, could have used some salsa — but I did like that statue of Kid Rock in a diaper doing that swan dive.'”
Considering how bad things are now, one can only imagine how much worse they would be if the military was sent in. Fortunately, siccing the U.S. army on U.S. citizens isn’t as simple as clicking “send” on a tweet. As Colbert noted, the Posse Comitatus Act requires the government to obtain permission from Congress before it can use the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.
“Unfortunately,” said Colbert, “Donald Trump never asks before he grabs us by the Posse.”