BIKERS AGAINST TRUMP

Vigilante Violence, Asymmetrical Warfare Against Democracy

 “ I have the support of the police, the support of the military, the support of the Bikers for Trump. I have the tough people, but they don’t play it tough — until they go to a certain point and then it would be very bad, very bad.” 

—President Donald J. Trump

As a life-long motorcyclist, I find Trump’s fetishistic focus on Bikers for Trump both pathetic and stupid. Putting on a Harley T-shirt does not make you a badass. 

But for the authoritarian, violence is a necessary extension of politics. The Authoritarian first creates a world of fictional events, to disorient us, and then a world of chaos, to justify his power. Next he must mobilize his vigilantes, blurring the line between state power and private violence. Trump has often lumped together our military and police with his own personal supporters. He sees no difference between the two.

This is Trump’s asymmetrical warfare—mobilizing unofficial violence to alter democratic outcomes. Bikers for Trump recently showed up in Bethel, Ohio, using chains and baseball bats to threaten demonstrators marching in support of Black Lives Matter.  Anti-democratic regimes have always deployed vigilantes in this way, praising them, urging them to go out and fight enemies of the regime. It was always thus: paramilitary violence and threats were present at the birth of European fascism. In Venezuela I saw colectivos, or pro-Chavez gangs, roam Caracas (again, with the motorcycles) menacing anti-government neighborhoods. In Argentina during the 2001 crisis I saw truckloads of shirtless men arrive at demonstrations, organized and disciplined, carrying long wooden clubs to beat their enemies. In America, white supremacy used violence to control the south for a century.

Trump is forming this mentality now, in preparation for the election and after. The Proud Boys of the Alt-Right have been fist-fighting in the streets for years; Christian dads with guns hop over obstacle courses in Idaho, training for the future conflict.

Trump asks his supporters to “rough up” protestors, he speculates that “Second Ammendment people” will eliminate the threat of Hillary Clinton, and he calls militia types who wave rifles at legislators “good people.” 

We hear you, Mr. President. You will outsource any violence you need, and blame it on others. 

The answer, as always, is more democracy, higher voting, bigger protests, and louder speech. And also maybe a nice long ride on your motorcycle.