I was 20

On May 4, 1970 when I was 20 years old the country was. in turmoil over the Viet Nam war.  College campuses were a hotbed of protest against this conflict.  The news media covered most of the protests.  Most of them were peaceful.  Acts of defiance like burning flags and burning draft cards were common.  Kent State University in Kent Ohio had such a protest.  The National Guard was called up to quell the disruption to normal campus life.  Four students were shot and killed.  Neil Young wrote a song about it.  I remember vividly the aftermath and how it led to the end of the conflict.

Yesterday 2000 National Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles to stem the tide of protest over the rounding up of immigrants suspected of entering the country without proper documentation.  Humans were scooped up by ICE agents for processing.  Trump is threatening to bring up US Marines from Camp Pendleton to breakup the protests.  

There were a lot of voices raised about the Viet Nam conflict.  Mine was a very small one.  I did not denigrate any soldier, nor would i.  This recent action taken by the administration is moving us one step closer to martial law where free speech will been silenced unless following the edicts put forth.  What I fear most is that we are just beginning with this guy, not even six months into his term,. I also fear that he will usurp his constitutional mandate to step down in 2028.

Maybe if people of conscience get up off their asses and vote in the midterm elections, at least one of the congressional bodies will not be run by the Republicans and some action can be taken to slow his regime down.  

Raising voices in opposition has always been a part of our democracy and republic. Don't give it up.

thats it