I read Judge Karen Immergut’s final ruling in early November that blocked the National Guard from remaining in Portland. Its main point was that the violence they were sent to Portland to quell did not exist in reality.

In other words, Portland avoiding violent resistance allowed the judge to kick out the National Guard. The courts are holding, and so is the military. It’s taking time, but they are not all going along with this, and both the judiciary and the military are required for a successful coup. In reality he’s losing power faster than he can consolidate it.

Don’t be blinded by single events. That’s what they want. If you do not want a fucking occupation of your city based on the lie that they are there to quell violence, then violence is not the correct response at this point.

Given that avoiding midterms altogether is the entire point of all this escalation – Venezuela, ICE murdering citizens, all of it – I will not judge anyone sane enough to avoid it for now.

I suggest you do the same. By which I mean “Violence should be avoided, but . . .” is not actually an anti-violence statement.