Opinion: Donald Trump's actions provide sanctuary for insurrection-leaning followers

On Thursday, May 30, a jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 indictments. Both the prosecution and the defense helped to shape the make up of the jury and approved of the jury. The jury was unanimous in its decision. The prosecution presented evidence, the judge policed the process, but it was a jury of his peers who delivered the verdict. The procedure involved state charges and took place in a state court. The federal government was not involved. Neither the U.S. president or the U.S. Attorney General had any say in the matter. For a brief moment, some of us felt that this matter had concluded and was behind us.

The former president, Donald Trump, made sure that was not the case. The next day, what he billed as a press conference but refused to take questions, Donald Trump railed against the judge, the prosecutor and the process.  Some very ugly and inaccurate statements were made. It is hard to recall any accurate statements coming out of that particular presentation. Later that night, PBS News Hour revealed some very mean comments coming from his supporters. The statements were hateful and chilling, calling for the violent murder of some of those involved in the process, including members of the jury.

In her June 1 newsletter, Heather Cox Richardson spoke of Sen. Margaret Chase, a Republican from Maine. In 1950, Sen. Chase took issue with Sen. Joe McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from Wisconsin. At the time, Sen. McCarthy was attacking many well known individuals as well as members of government claiming that they were taking part in communist activities. He had no proof for his claims and was destroying the careers of many in the process.

Heather Cox Richardson quoted Sen. Chase as saying in response to the action of Sen. McCarthy, “As an American, I condemn a Republican Fascist just as much as I condemn a Democrat Communist,” she said. “They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country. As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy instead of ourselves.”

Mrs. Richardson goes on to state that Chase presented a “Declaration of Conscience,” listing five principles she hoped her party would adopt. It ended with a warning: “It is high time that we all stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques — techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.”

Sen. Chase’s words at the time rang with a great deal of truth and with determination to put an end to the very destructive actions of Sen. McCarthy. Sen. McCarthy was ultimately censured for his actions. Sen. McCarthy’s actions lead to the term “McCarthyism,” which came to mean reckless and unsubstantiated accusations.

Senator Margaret Chase's actions in 1950 would have equal merit if she was with us today. On the June 2, 2024, CBS show, "Sunday Morning," Ted Koppel interviewed several followers of Donald Trump and played some clips of Donald Trump. In short, those interviewed or quoted showed an infatuation with the Civil War and the people who led an armed insurrection against the Union. Several of the folks interviewed talked of armed insurrection if Donald Trump is not elected president. Before our very eyes and on numerous occasions, Donald Trump has provided sanctuary for such comments.

I personally know several people who do not carry the same political beliefs as I. However, we find no problem conversing with each other and engaging in activities with each other. We are able to conduct ourselves in this fashion because we treat each other with integrity and with respect. We have no difficulty finding something in common on which to base our relationship.

This is not playing out in our national, state, or local politics. Those vying for power find it necessary to demonize those with whom they are in opposition. This seems to be particularly true with those calling themselves Republicans as they are very loose with facts and quick to demonize their opposition.

At some point we must either learn to do better or be prepared to accept the demise of this democracy.

More: Opinion: News reporting has become more sensationalized without the FCC Fairness Doctrine

More: Opinion: CPAC speaker hopes to topple democracy and replace it with Donald Trump's rules

Lee Sease lives in Burnsville. He is a former Superintendent of Schools in Middlebury, Vermont.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Donald Trump continues to demonize those in opposition to him