NEWARK - A U.S. Army National Guard veteran this morning decried as fascism the National Archives' move to make public the military records of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11).

By way of context:

A branch of the National Archives released a mostly unredacted version of the records of the Democratic nominee for Governor to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Republican Jack Ciattarelli, her rival in the Nov. 4th general election. The disclosure potentially violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and exemptions established under the Freedom of Information Act.

Ciattarelli has the support of President Donald J. Trump.

Standing in Essex County Veterans Memorial Park with other New Jersey veterans who condemned the Trump administration’s transfer of Sherrill’s Social Security number, home and family’s address, Dr. Margaret Stevens chose strong and pointed words.

"This is a use of terrorism by the state against citizens," she told InsiderNJ. "It's not just undocumented workers snatched up and kidnapped. It's folks running for the highest levels of government.

"No one is safe," she added.

ECC History Professor and published author, Stevens served as a Medic in 91 Bravo with the Army National Guard in Jersey City from 1997 to 2004. She was activated on 9/11, serving as a medic in support of first responders.

"I was there when they gave birth to the whole homeland security concept," she said. "You see that the origins of homeland security have within it the seeds of what could become what's happening now, but this is on an entirely different level."

Will it motivate military veterans to mobilize for Sherrill?

Stevens was unsure.

"What makes fascism possible is disillusion," she said.