CITING “CIVIL UNREST” in American cities, the Department of Homeland Security has accelerated new regulations meant to expand the powers of a little-known federal police force.

The new rules drew scant notice when they were first proposed during the twilight of the Biden administration. Now, using language about “rioters” at federal facilities, the Trump administration is fast-tracking the rule changes — which critics say DHS could use as a pretext to go after protesters wearing frog costumes or making a racket on the streets of Chicago and Portland, Oregon.

Among the new rules was the criminalization of protesters wearing masks. The mask ban ostensibly applies only to those trying to conceal their identity during a crime, but the Trump administration has taken an expansive view of criminal behavior in protests that includes an array of First Amendment-protected activity.

    • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
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      16 hours ago

      I’d argue the only state qualified to “lead” anything is Washington State. California is way too political. Oregon is Purple with a loud rainbow dot around Portland.

      The rest of the country is just laughable.

      CASCADIA NOW!

        • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
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          8 hours ago

          If anyone sees California as a leader of the country, they do not know anything about the country. Perhaps a few decades ago California was pushing a bit more than other states, but those days are long gone and… Nearly forgotten. Except all of those things that give you cancer… California is definitely a world leader on labeling Carcinogens

          • PeacefulForest@lemmy.world
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            5 hours ago

            California’s problems are real—no one’s denying that, in fact that’s quite literally what I was saying. However, let’s be honest: the same states laughing at California’s struggles are the ones copying its policies while doing nothing to fix their own mess. They use its tech, stream its movies, and copy its climate policies… and then they’re sitting there saying, “You don’t know anything about the country.” They’re just not paying attention to the data.

            • tornavish@lemmy.cafe
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              5 hours ago

              Well… I don’t think any state is doing a very good job except for Washington state. And even that is not good enough to stay in the United States for once martial law happens (it will)