Tina Winterlik: History in the Headlines: What the World Shows Us

History in the Headlines: What the World Shows Us

1. Portland, Oregon (USA, 2020)

What happened:
- After George Floyd’s murder, protests erupted nationwide for racial justice (BLM — Black Lives Matter).
- The federal government sent tactical officers and National Guard troops to Portland under the pretext of protecting federal property.
- These officers used tear gas, pepper spray, and detentions, often without clear identification or due process.
Why it mattered:
- Civilians felt intimidated even if they weren’t protesting.
- The military-style intervention blurred the line between law enforcement and military power.
- It created fear and mistrust toward the federal government.
Lesson: Militarized response to social unrest can escalate tensions and erode civil liberties.

What happened:
- Pro-democracy protests against a controversial extradition law grew into massive movements.
- Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, mass arrests, and curfews to control citizens.
- The government also used surveillance and social pressure to suppress dissent.
Lesson: Aggressive policing can suppress protest and create fear, making ordinary citizens hesitant to speak out.

What happened:
- After a failed coup in 2016, President Erdoğan declared a state of emergency.
- Thousands of judges, teachers, journalists, and civil servants were arrested or dismissed.
- Emergency powers were used to bypass normal legal processes.
Lesson: Legal loopholes and emergency powers can rapidly centralize authority and suppress dissent.

China: The government targeted Uyghur Muslims and other minorities, placing them in “reeducation” camps. Surveillance, forced labor, and restrictions on culture and religion were enforced.
Venezuela: The government used military and paramilitary forces to suppress protests, control resources, and intimidate citizens.
Lesson: Vulnerable groups are often the first to face repression; militarized enforcement can be used to control entire populations.

Right now, Canada does not have the same level of militarized enforcement against civilians that we’ve seen in Portland or Hong Kong.
Canadian law generally keeps the military separate from domestic policing, and civil liberties are strong.
That said, there are warnings if policies start normalizing aggressive enforcement on vulnerable populations (e.g., Indigenous land defenders, homeless communities). The system is designed to prevent widespread militarized control, but nothing is impossible if governments start pushing boundaries.

Some countries are seeing erosion of civil liberties, especially where governments exploit emergencies or social unrest.
Trends:
- Militarized policing of protests
- Targeting marginalized groups first
- Using “public safety” as justification for authoritarian measures
Not every country will follow this path — democracies with strong institutions (like Canada, much of Western Europe) have checks and balances that slow down authoritarian shifts.

💡 Key takeaway:

What you’re seeing in the US and other countries is a warning sign, not a guaranteed future for everyone.
Understanding history and global trends lets us recognize early warning signs and resist them before they escalate.