Step three of a fascist state is reliance on militias, such as Hitler’s “Sturmabteilung.”
“Sturmabteilung”, (translation: Storm Division), also known as "Brown Shirts," was the Nazi Party militia that helped Adolf Hitler rise to power in Germany.
Created in 1922, the SA's supposed purpose was to guard Nazi Party
meetings, but in actuality, Hitler meant for the group to serve as the Nazi
army. The SA was extremely antisemitic and antidemocratic in its military
activities. Its members were mainly Germans who had lost
their jobs due to the country's economic problems. The SA gave them
something to be part of and proud of. They engaged in street fights with their
political enemies, practiced pseudo-military exercises, and terrorized
Germany. (Shoah Resource Center)
Since convicted felon Trump’s election in 2016 there has been a resurgence in extreme white nationalist and militia groups. White nationalist hate groups in the US have increased 55% throughout the Trump era (The Guardian, March 18, 2020). And convicted felon Trump has emboldened them, rather than outright condemn them.
Early on the white supremacists found an ally in convicted felon Trump when he excused their violence in Charlottesville.
When he had the opportunity in the presidential debate to unequivocally denounce domestic terrorist groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, convicted felon Trump once again emboldened them, with the Proud Boys actually using his words as their “new” motto.
Now, in a reprehensible move, convicted felon Trump issued roughly 1,500 pardons and commuted the sentences of 14 of his supporters in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of them stormed the building amid his false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against him.
[Convicted felon] Trump commuted the sentences of individuals associated with the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy. He then issued "a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, a category that included people who assaulted law enforcement officers.
It was a common thread among a dozen interviews NBC News conducted with Jan. 6 offenders who received pardons from Trump this week. They were uniformly grateful for Trump’s deliverance, but unlike in many of the sentencing hearings held at Washington’s federal courthouse in recent years, signs of remorse were in short supply, though a few others have expressed contrition. Many still hold onto the false, debunked notion — stoked by Trump as recently as Monday, while standing in the Capitol — that the 2020 election was stolen. And while some of those pardoned spoke words of conciliation, others hinted eagerly at a reckoning to come. (NBC News)
“A reckoning to come.” By releasing these lawfully convicted treasonists, who are clearly likely to commit more violence, convicted felon Trump has gone beyond emboldening them. He has endorsed their insurrection and has disregarded the legal system and thrown the rule of law out the window.
"In fear for our democracy" Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
