Check for web archive captures
Fake Emergency! (land, money, and power grabs for a
border wall) brings protests and lawsuits.
By mickielynn on 2019-02-21 16:25:41
[caption id="attachment_ 12183" align="alignnone" width="600"]
La
People protest President
Trump’s "national emergency" declaration in front of the White House. Monday, February 18, 2019. Photo by Brendan
Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images[/caption] [caption id="attachment_ 12182" align="alignright" width="480"]
La
Demonstrators at a White House protest, which
was organized by the American Civil Liberties Union. Zach Gibson/Getty Images[/caption] [caption id="attachment_ 12181"
align="alignnone" width="600"]
Border wall at Tijuana,
Mexico photo by Mario Tama/ Getty Images[/caption] Welcome to the atest chapter of the current amoral, cruel, power
hungry, scapegoating, hate spewing, racist, xenophobic, kleptocratic administration. A President and cabinet that never
(well hardly ever) met a historical, geopolitical, constitutional, judicial, scientific, or other widely proven fact that it
accepted. That is unless it suited its goals to further destroy our democracy and ignore our system of government by seizing
authoritarian power. [caption id="attachment_12191" align="alignleft" width="400"]
La
Speaking of false narratives: Cartoon by Josh Brown, published on February 16, 2019 on his website "Life During
Wartime."[/caption] So far in its first two years and 32 days of "governing" it has consistently ignored or challenged the
constitutional powers of the other branches of government, (such as the power of the purse and the ability to authorize war
designated to Congress; and the interpretation of national and international laws granted to the judiciary. It often achieves
its destructive and dangerous goals through outright /ies and false narratives. The idea of huge mobs of "invaders" coming
to the US southern border repeated in ever inventive fear mongering ways has been a favorite campaign meme and pillar of
the 2016 platform. Now with racist advisers like Stephen Miller, and the former AG, Jeff Sessions, the goal of expressing
hostility to refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants has resulted in ever more cruel and restrictive executive orders and
policy decisions. Escalating in a continued push for his bid for re-election. Here's an excellent short video about the pitfalls
of such a declaration in the current situation. (J just need to warn readers that I'm unable to turn off the auto play of the next
video so just hit pause if you don't want to watch it.) Fittingly, on President's Day, Monday, February 18th, 16 states filed
suit to use judicial powers to end this unconstitutional declaration of an emergency. Last Friday, lawsuits were also brought
by, Public Citizen and the Center for Biological Diversity in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging
that Trump’s emergency declaration was unconstitutional. Also on Friday Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington, sued the Justice Department, for "failing to provide legal opinions, communications and other documents
related to the president's decision to declare a national emergency." [caption id="attachment_ 12192" align="alignnone"
les
width="600"] A section of
border wall separates Tijuana, Mexico, from San Diego, as seen from the U.S. in January. California has filed a lawsuit
along with 15 other states, calling President Trump's use of a national emergency declaration to redirect money toward
border wall construction unconstitutional. Photo by Gregory Bull / AP[/caption] Earlier, just after the national emergency
was declared on Friday, NPR published an analysis of just what would be the major judicial determinants of a legal decision
about whether this was a constitutional use of such "emergency powers." But this article didn't describe all of the other
powers that could be granted to the President if this emergency actually went into effect. They are really scary and would
allow for even more repression and authoritarian actions, possibly cancelling out Posse Comitatus and shutting down
internet functions. The many public protests that took place on Monday included about 300 local ones all across the United
States, as well as those in Washington DC. Here's an article and some photos of one that happened in Delmar NY. [caption
id "attachment_12187" align="alignnone" width="600"]
| Delmar NY protest of
declaration of national emergency for border wall funding, Monday, February 18, 2019. Photo by Lori Van Buren/Times
Union[/caption] [caption id="attachment_ 12186" align="alignnone" width="600"]
Bethlehem Neighbors for
Peace join national action on Presidents Day, February 18th, photo by Lori Van Buren, Times Union[/caption] The House
Democrats are also following the legislative path to challenging the Emergency Declaration. Yesterday Nancy Pelosi
announced that they would vote this week on a resolution disapproving the emergency declaration allowing funds to build a
wall with Mexico. If this passes then an automatic discussion and vote would happen in the Senate but then it would go to
trump for his signature and he would veto it. So unless there is enough opposition to the veto, that path might be blocked.
As a former environmental educator I wanted to emphasize the major environmental harm that sections of the wall built
along wildlife corridors or blocking the free flow of water across watersheds could do to wildlife, plants and to humans
subject to floods under certain conditions. [caption id="attachment_12180" align="alignnone" width="600"]
La
Border-Wall endangers animal
habitats, poster from the Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_ 12199"
align="alignnone" width="600"]
New Mexico's bootheel
region along the US Mexico border is an important wildlife corridor, Photo by Mallory Falk/ KRWG. There is no border
wall here yet but it's difficult to predict what might happen if the "national emergency" declaration is allowed to take effect.
[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12198" align="alignnone" width="600"]
. ; —_ New 18-foot, steel bollard
fencing is replacing an old vehicle border near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in New Mexico, photo by Mallory Falk,
KRWG. The old vehicle barrier was easily crossable by wildlife and did not block or dam the flow of water. But the taller
barrier creates borders to the natural world and threatens the environment.[/caption] Here's one recent and very well written
article that describes the environmental consequences of building such a wall without the need to follow regulations to
preserve our water, land and wild creatures. And of course it would also threaten social and economic interactions of people
and communities on either side of the border, including people who have lived along the border for generations and might
have their lands appropriated under emergency provisions. So if you pray please ask that this emergency declaration not be
allowed to survive, and if you take individual or community actions please make this one of your priorities; to protect
immigrants, border communities, living creatures and ecosystems; and the separation of powers that makes our democracy,
however endangered, possible. [caption id="attachment_ 12221" align="alignnone" width="600"]
"Just as the moon was rising
this afternoon clouds moved and let some snow fly. I'm glad I looked a little later though because the weather changes
quickly and the clouds had moved on leaving this view. Getting ready for the Supermoon on the 19th!" The almost super
moon was rising this afternoon. February 17, 2019, 5:11 PM. Photo by April Singer Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico,
2/17/19[/caption]
