Whitmer kidnap plot

The American Federal Bureau of Investigation and Michigan state officials have revealed in a court filing that they are charging at least 13 people in a massive plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Earlier this year, Whitmer, a Democrat, had become a major target of US President Donald Trump's ire as he tried to divert attention from his incompetent handling of the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis at the federal level. She was an easy target. She was from the other political party. Her state was considered a toss-up for the presidential election, and — keeping Trump's history of misogyny in mind — she was a woman.

But Whitmer, whose state policies were sensible and in line with the best practices adopted by most countries and states that actually cared about their citizens, eventually did throw shade back at Trump. Being slighted, and that too by a woman, was too much for Trump. He literally called for domestic militias — which would be considered terrorist groups in any civilised country — to "liberate Michigan”. Hundreds of militiamen descended on the state capital and went toe-to-toe with the local police, although serious violence was avoided, mostly because America has a rich history of not killing armed white men threatening violence.  

The 13 people charged on Thursday are members or affiliates of militias that were involved in those earlier protests. Outside their leader's home, the police found a Confederate flag — flown by literal traitors during the civil war — and the "Original 13" flag — which has been adopted by some white supremacist groups. Investigators also said the accused men wanted to instigate a civil war. Meanwhile, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Donald Trump's media allies are accusing Whitmer of being responsible for the incident, rather than the man that called for an insurrection against her.

The US is quick to drop bombs on terrorists all over the world for perceived threats to Americans. It is a welcome change that they have finally started taking some action against the genuine threat presented by domestic white supremacist terrorists. Real change, however, will not come as long as a white supremacist sympathiser occupies the White House.