The Bonfire Starts at Home: Portage County Sheriff Calls to Burn the Local Paper

In 2025 America, the book burnings start small.

Portage County's own Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski — already infamous for his ICE collaboration and creeping authoritarianism — has now publicly encouraged his supporters to burn copies of The Portager, one of the county's only independent newspapers.

Not debate them. Not refute them. Not sue them.

Burn them.

The Sheriff's fury came after The Portager reported fairly and critically on Zuchowski's partnership with ICE under the 287(g) program, and their coverage of rising concerns about civil rights abuses in Portage County. Rather than answer those concerns, Zuchowski turned to a tried-and-true dictator's trick: destroy the press. Silence the critics. Light the truth on fire.

It would almost be laughable if it weren't so dangerous.

This is Not Just Talk

Zuchowski's call isn't some offhand joke. In fascist movements across history — from Nazi Germany to Franco's Spain to Trump's America — the destruction of media is step one. Make the people blind, deaf, uninformed. Fearful of dissent.

And now that step has come to our town.

A sheriff, elected to uphold the Constitution, openly advocates the elimination of the free press - because the truth about his ICE deal and abuse of power is too ugly for public view.

When Cops Burn Words, What Comes Next?

Ask yourself: if the sheriff wants newspapers burned today...

What happens tomorrow?

Will it be flyers and zines like this one?

Will it be anti-fascist graffiti on campus walls?

Will it be the books in Kent State's library?

What else will be called "dangerous" and "illegal" and fit for the flames?

This is not theoretical. This is not happening in Florida or Texas or California.

It's happening in Portage County, Ohio.

A Pattern of Fear

This incident fits into Zuchowski's larger strategy:

• Deputizing his force as ICE agents under 287(g).
• Increasing traffic stops and patrols in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.
• Silencing criticism with lawsuits and threats.

And now: calling for the physical destruction of dissenting media.

A sheriff who laughs about burning papers will not stop there. He does not fear debate or democracy. He fears exposure.

What You Can Do

• 1. Read The Portager. Share its reporting. Print it. Pass it around.
Independent press must survive. Zuchowski fears it for a reason.
• 2. Watch your libraries, bookstores, and bulletin boards.

If they start pulling "dangerous" materials, you'll know the crackdown has spread.

• 3. Document, record, publish.

They can burn one newspaper. They can't burn every phone camera. Every post. Every voice.

• 4. Be brave in your speech.

Authoritarian power withers in the light. Laugh at them. Call them out. Name what they are: fascist, coward, thug.

Final Word:

They burn the paper because they can't burn the truth.

But only if you carry it.

Stay dangerous. Stay loud. Stay free.