Darren Weeks
Coalition to Govern America
May 7, 2013
I was horrified this week to learn that Adam Kokesh, an Iraq war veteran, and radio and TV host is organizing a group to march on Washington D.C. with loaded rifles. They're planning their march for July 4th and will be meeting at the "National Cemetery & at noon we will step off to march across the Memorial Bridge, down Independence Avenue, around the Capitol, the Supreme Court, & the White House, then peacefully return to Virginia across the Memorial Bridge," according to the official Facebook page for the event.
Washington D.C. is disarmed, and therefore anyone participating in the event would be subject to arrest, a detail that is not lost on Kokesh. "This is an act of civil disobedience, not a permitted event," he notes, adding that the purpose is "to put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated & cower in submission to tyranny. "
He goes on to cite the oft-used Jefferson quote that when the people fear government there is tyranny, but when the government fears the people, there is freedom. OK, fine.
But does Kokesh or any of the now 2,500+ people who are apparently planning on participating in his elaborate shindig really believe that marching through the District of Criminals with loaded rifles is going to frighten any of the slimy tyrants who are screwing raw the American people? We're talking about a federal government with the largest military, possessing some of the most sophisticated military equipment in the world! Nobody knows that better than Kokesh himself, who served in the Marines. So he and his group of followers are going to "put the government on notice" huh? That you're going to do what, exactly?
For his part, Kokesh assures his recruits that he has no intention of starting any conflicts. "This will be a non-violent event, unless the government chooses to make it violent. Should we meet physical resistance, we will peacefully turn back, having shown that free people are not welcome in Washington, & returning with the resolve that the politicians, bureaucrats, & enforcers of the federal government will not be welcome in the land of the free."
That sounds all well and good, except for one thing. What if someone in the group decides to make it violent, Mr. Kokesh? It would only take one individual getting a wild hair up their hind end to create a very disastrous scenario. Even of greater concern, what if the Feds, themselves, who have already demonstrated an insatiable lust to go after gun owners and patriot groups alike, decided to send agents provocateur into the group to participate, then these infiltrators decide to make it violent?
He goes on to say that "there's a remote chance that there will be violence as there has been from government before, and I think it should be clear that if anyone involved in this event is approached respectfully by agents of the state, they will submit to arrest without resisting. We are truly saying in the SUBTLEST way possible that we would rather die on our feet than live on our knees."
Thousands of armed individuals parading into Washington D.C. during the annual 4th of July festivities? Yeah, that's pretty subtle. About as subtle as a derailed freight train.
Forgive me, but this is extremely foolish and stupid! Everyone participating in this event, regardless of how well-meaning the individuals might be, are begging for an incident with the feds. If the police begin roughing up the protesters, as they too often do at protests, are you going to let them pummel you or will you defend yourself with your firearms? You should know that getting the cooperation of the D.C. police will be highly unlikely. The Washington D.C. police are a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They even have "Homeland Security" written on all of their police cars. I've personally seen it.
If I were Barack Obama, Janet Napolitano, or Eric Holder, this armed march on D.C. by pro-gun patriot groups would be my dream come true. Here's their chance to set you up, validate all of the FBI documents that have warned of the supposed "dangers" of "right-wing extremists", returning military, and Constitution-believing patriots as domestic terrorists who want to nothing more than to create violence and overthrow the government. I can see the headlines now.
We implore anyone who might be considering joining in with this march to just stay home. At best, you'll accomplish nothing. The feds are not going to listen to you. They don't care what you think. They've demonstrated that countless times.
You want a solution? Work within your states. Pressure your elected officials there to institute state militias, to defend your state against the federal onslaught. Instruct them to move away from accepting federal handouts, which make the states beholden to the federal mandates and turn our local police departments into extensions of the Department of Homeland Security.
Work with your county sheriffs and get them on the side of freedom. Show them that they'll have the backing of their communities when the feds come into town and they stand up to them.
Encourage your state representatives to "re-present" your concerns to Congress and petition them, on your behalf, for redress of grievances. If D.C. got a bunch of state lawmakers descending upon the town proclaiming that their constituents were furious with them, it would hold more weight than if an individual calls, writes, or visits.
An armed march on Washington, even though it may be emotionally satisfying for an understandably disgruntled, increasingly poor and disenfranchised populace, has all of the potential of a powder keg, waiting for a spark. In the very real chance something is ignited, you will have become a domestic terrorist. Furthermore, you may well give the feds the fuel to declare Martial Law — and, in this case, it would actually be Constitutional! Don't think so? Then, you need to read Article 1, Section 8 very carefully. If you think the recent episode of Martial Law in Boston was bad, it can always get worse. That's too great a risk to take simply to make a statement.
With all of your thousands of rifles, the feds still have bigger guns than you do. There is absolutely no sense in giving them the justification they crave to turn them on the American people.
