Ally Action Project Week 8: Dismantle DHS

This week, we re-examined the tactics employed by the Department of Homeland Security. By deploying DHS, ATF, DEA, and FBI, Attorney General Barr's "Operation Legend" in order to suppress protests, labelled in this justice.org document as "violent crime". We asked allies living in Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee to take care when protesting, and to call their local congressperson to communicate the valued right to protest.

Using an ACLU article we explored some of the specific tactics to take issue with, including abducting people into unmarked paramilitary cars, holding people without immediate charge, and escalating violence against protesters. The ACLU calls these tactics unlawful and fearsome, calling attention to an 18 year history of DHS tactics being questioned as constitutionally bankrupt. They propose a plan for dismantling the DHS by splitting it into smaller federal agencies that have more congressional oversight. DHS was not intended to break up American's right to protest, and creating this precedent can open the door to future presidents using military forces on American citizens. As the current protests are themed largely around black and minority rights, this has become DHS vs. minorities.

As of July 25th, federal officers have arrested or detained 60 people in Portland protests alone. In keeping with our theme of becoming an ally to underrepresented groups, we asked anyone with protests in their city to consider contacting their local congress member in order to express support for legislation dismantling DHS and not allowing them into cities if the protests become more "violent". In order to peacefully resolve this series of protests, systemic change is needed. Simply quashing protests with military threat-oriented agencies sets a dangerous precedent, and pits the government against all allies.