“Unprecedented, Unwarranted, Unconstitutional, Un-American: OUR Cities Militarized by A Wanna-Be Dictator”
QUICK READ: No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna- be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupations aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. We need our media and political representatives to stay on message and stop falling for the bait. You must speak out against the authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Last week, Trump, standing before TV cameras, asked Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to beg him to “do us the honor of protecting our city."
Pritzker’s response? "Mr. President, do not come to Chicago."
Pritzker then articulated the powerful defense of democracy we need to hear daily from our political representatives, community faith leaders, law enforcement, business people, and educators, characterizing Trump’s threats of unwarranted, unconstitutional military occupation—in blue states with Black Mayors or large Black populations—as political theater aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections.
Claiming these military occupations will protect citizens from violence is farcical. Los Angeles was no war zone months ago, and the crime rates in DC and Chicago dropped greatly without Trump’s intervention.
Violent crime’s actually higher in red-state cities. Thirteen of the top 20 with the highest murder rate have Republican Governors, but Chicago’s not even one of them. In fact, Trump cut so much of Illinois’ crime fighting funding that Pritzker accused him of “defunding the police.”
Our MoCs must be clear in their daily messaging—no one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” and our cities’ military occupation stems from the chilling, determined power grab by the most dangerous man ever to occupy the White House, not from any crime emergency.
To those rolling over, they must promise consequences. To those actively protecting our democracy, like the Illinois and California Governors and the Baltimore and Boston Mayors, we and they offer thanks.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. If you truly believe in the American experiment and the Constitution you swore to uphold, you must speak out against this extremely unpopular overreaching.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. If you truly believe in the American experiment and the Constitution you swore to uphold, you must speak out against this extremely unpopular overreaching.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
No one wants their neighborhood turned into a war zone by a “wanna-be dictator” using false alarms to justify military occupation aimed at punishing dissent, scoring political points, circumventing democracy, and eliminating elections. The media and our MoCs must stop falling for the bait and stay on message. Speak out against Trump’s authoritarian drift and keep your eyes on 2026.
