Jan. 4, 2027: Articles of impeachment were introduced against President Donald J. Trump on the first day of the 120th Congress. Mr. Trump’s high crimes and misdemeanors include, among other offenses, flagrantly violating the Constitution of United States and subverting the president’s pardon power by freeing hundreds of convicted insurrectionists who, on Jan. 6, 2021, violently sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.

Fantasy? Wishful thinking? Maybe not. The blizzard of controversial executive orders Trump 2.0 has unleashed to demolish our democracy has been so dizzying that it’s understandable that many people feel overwhelmed. From attempting to end birthright citizenship to withdrawing from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords; from rounding up — as of this writing — close to 50,000 migrants to deport to withholding congressionally appropriated funds for social programs and firing inspectors general and longtime prosecutors in the Department of Justice, the Trump administration has been executing Project 2025’s doomsday sweep at warp speed.

While each of these actions must be subject to vigorous, sustained challenges — in the courts, through legislation, and in the streets — it is essential that at the top of the list is Mr. Trump’s decision to release violent criminals who attacked police and ransacked the Capitol. Many of them, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, are flaunting their newfound freedom, ominously pledging retribution against those who investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned them.

Were he not protected by his office, Mr. Trump surely would be investigated for pardoning or commuting the sentences of nearly 1,600 insurrectionists who he incited to attack the seat of our government.

A U.S. president has freed violent offenders to roam the streets of the nation! Why does the outrage feel muted? Every media organization, left, right and center, should be running editorials condemning his action. Every civic organization should be denouncing him. Legislatures across the country should be filing legislation to rein in his lawlessness. And we the people should be at forefront of this resistance.

Do voters who favored Trump in the election approve of the pardons? In an NPR/Maris poll conducted before Trump’s formal announcement, roughly six out of 10 disapproved of the pardons—89% of Democrats, 62% of independents and 30% of Republicans. Notably, days before Trump’s announcement, even Vice President J.D. Vance said that people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned. What about the six conservative Supreme Court injustices? Will they remain mute? Hello?

Department of Justice officials and legal scholars called the move an “unprecedented and dangerous use of the pardon power that dealt a crushing blow not just to federal law enforcement, but also to the U.S. justice system,” wrote Ken Dilanian and Ryan J. Reilly in a column for NBC News. Legal scholars and DOJ officials say it “makes a mockery of years of work by FBI agents, prosecutors and federal judges — some of whom Trump appointed — after an effort that included charges against 1,583 defendants, more than 1,000 guilty pleas and more than 200 convictions at trial.”

Before even enumerating his 34-count felony conviction in the hush money case, or his attempt to subvert the 2020 election, or illegally refusing to return hundreds of classified documents he absconded with when he skipped President Joe Biden’s inauguration and fled Washington, this blatant act — freeing hundreds of violent, imprisoned insurrectionists — is proof positive of Trump’s intent to destroy democracy, replacing it with fascism.

“Some worry,” Dilanian and Reilly wrote, that “it signals open season for political violence — given that 608 of those charged were accused of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement agents or officers.” What an assault on the rule of law the pardons are, not only to the police officers who were seriously injured that day, but also to the families of those who subsequently died.

Yes, pardoning violent criminals is Trump’s most egregious action since returning to the White House; we know it won’t be his last. Like L.A. Fire Department sirens blaring as their city burns, there is an urgent need — right now — for a citizens’ fire brigade to protect democracy from burning to the ground.

Silence and turning a blind eye are not an option. Just ask the Germans.

Rob Okun (robokun50@gmail.com) syndicated by Peace Voice, is a former daily newspaper reporter and editor of several magazines and books, including “The Rosenbergs: Collected Visions of Artists and Writers,” and “Voice Male: The Untold Story of the Profeminist Men’s Movement.” Editor emeritus of Voice Male, a magazine chronicling the antisexism men’s movement, he writes about politics and culture.