January 2, 2017 will live in infamy. President Robert Rockefeller announced to the American public the first US Martial law in response to a series of natural disasters. While many countries were celebrating the coming of the New Year, the most recent disaster, the New Year’s earthquake in Southern California hitting 8.2 on the Richter Scale has caused even more strife and suffering for the population of our country.

This recent earthquake followed other seismic events on the west coast of our nation - the eruptions of Mount Saint Helens in Washington state four days ago and of Mount Spurr in Alaska last week and a devastating 7.3 earthquake in Reno, Nevada. These cataclysmic events have left hundreds of thousands in the dark, dead, or missing, with widespread looting being a problem in these areas. On the East Coast, rare winter hurricanes Lorenzo, Melissa, and Pablo – the first time three category 5 hurricanes have come onto our shores at full force - have devastated much of our country in the past month creating an economic crisis of staggering proportions. In the Midwest, a rare winter tornado swarm Christmas Eve killed thousands and left thousands more homeless or injured as they ripped through our nation’s heartland. Finally, as widespread panic continues over rising water levels in New York and Florida, forcing millions from their homes and jobs and immigration continues from Mexico in staggering numbers, Rockefeller has determined that the only way to help the American people is to invoke martial law.

As Rockefeller sat in the oval office, delivering the news to our nation, he was dressed in a black suit. He looked pained with wrinkled forehead. Rockefeller said of this decision, “It was a tough call, however, with the current pandemonium of our people, for their very safety, we must do this. We are a nation that banded together, sixteen years ago, after an attack on our soil. We must band together in this time of chaos and tragedy. In order to ensure the safety of our citizens, protecting the good people of the United States from crime and the potential of another terrorist attack, we must have a military presence on our streets. Anyone suspected of crime, tyranny or treason will be dealt with accordingly.”

Martial Law is the exercise of governmental force against its citizens in order to protect the citizenry from chaos. In 2006, there were two acts that President George W. Bush passed enabling the government to once again step in during times of civil unrest in order to restore the peace. The first of these acts was The Military Commissions Act. This act was controversial in its time, giving the right of the government to suspend the rights of accused persons to a hearing. The second act passed was the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 – allowing troops to take control of the National Guard when a national emergency arises. This second act applies to Rockefeller’s decision today.

A national curfew of eight p.m. will be imposed upon our people. Anyone on the streets after this time will be subject to arrest. All media will henceforth be under the control of the federal government. With so many areas of our nation in a blackout, President Rockefeller said, “We must be secure in our actions. Any weaknesses we display for others can be security breaches where potential terrorists will seize the opportunity to act. Moreover, we are forced to shut down the internet in order to ensure that our citizens will be safe.”

President Rockefeller does not want you to panic in this situation. Rations cards for food and supplies will be given out in order to insure the orderly dispensing of food through your communities. Troops will be rounding up citizens without places to stay and taking them to FEMA centers for housing. The vans will be passing through town three times a day. If you need a place to stay, do take advantage of this service. If you are found on the street, you will be detained.

All modes of transportation will be controlled by the federal government. There will be military checkpoints at all highways and intersections. If you are traveling, do be sure to take your papers – birth certificates, universal ID card, etc. If you cannot prove who you are, you are at risk of being detained.

Rockefeller ended his speech by saying, “The important thing in this situation is not to panic. Stay at home with your family, go to your workplace. Continue living life as much as you can, but by all means stay out of trouble, and cooperate with our troops.”