June 14 protests. Be careful out there.

Stay on the sidewalks.

Stay back from streets.

Don't block traffic.

There is an idea out there in MAGA-land that it is OK to kill Democrats accidently-on-purpose.

Make it hard for them.

Democrats might be blind to it if they don't watch Fox News and other MAGA-friendly media. The Democrats-are-fair-game idea is openly praised by Florida officials who get lots of play on Fox. Florida passed a law protecting drivers claim to feel threatened by protesters. Just plow into them, Governor Ron DeSantis said. He presented drivers as being in peril. "You have a right to flee for safety," he said. "You don't have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of our car and drag you through the streets."

President Trump validated political violence on behalf of MAGA when he pardoned and praised the January 6 capitol rioters. They were justified in attacking police. They were going after Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi -- a worthy cause for patriots.

Last night's assassination attempt of two Democratic legislators exemplifies the new zeitgeist of political violence. Trump made light of the invasion of Nancy Pelosi's home by a man hoping to kidnap her, a man who fractured the skull of her husband.

Meanwhile, far right groups go back and forth about whether to attack today's protesters or, alternatively, to stay away from the protests lest they become a sympathetic optic for the protesters. That was the position of Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Kepers. Others advocate engagement with the protests. The Wall Street Journal reports on "a meme circulating on Telegram channels of groups affiliated with the far-right Proud Boys. 'Shoot a couple, the rest will go home.'"

I don't know if local demonstrators in my Medford, Oregon home are at risk. I received one email that suggests that at least one person is looking for an excuse to "defend himself." I consider it more a warning than a threat:

The party is over for you progressive motherfuckers. I kind of hope that the grey-haired communist motherfuckers from Ashland would come into Medford and create a violent ruckus. Citizens will be ready for them, and will put them out of their misery.

Citizens like that are out there.

The law is no protection against them except, perhaps, after the fact, but I am choosing not to hide. The goal of authoritarian leaders and their MAGA supporters is to frighten people into obeying in advance and giving up one's rights voluntarily. We are allowed "peaceably to assemble" and to "petition government for a redress of grievances" and I will do so later this morning.

I will be carrying an American flag.