As the Trump administration escalates its “cruelty is the point” anti-immigrant policies, escalates illegal wars, and partially shuts the government down to create Jim Crow-era “voting security,” amongst other clear fascist shifts, we are placed in the position of having to act boldly and intelligently, and to do so persistently and effectively. We need to look at the moment we are in, our capacity to make a difference, and the responsibilities that we have to defend those under attack. We are all asking ourselves: what tangible things can I do to fight for justice and equality?
People are being effectively disappeared every day, those standing in solidarity are being shot dead in the street by contemporary American Brownshirts. Nine anti-fascists were recently labelled terrorists and railroaded into federal prison. Trump and Hegseth’s bro-thug imperialism has seen the warrantless kidnapping of Venezuela’s President, the further strangulation of Cuba, the continued bombing of Iran, and Israel’s expansion of the Gazan genocide into South Lebanon – a topic we’re not even allowed to mention at this gathering.
If we are serious about upholding basic democratic processes or human rights, we need to take ourselves seriously enough to act on what we know, rather than invest bad faith in an electoral strategy we have never seen work. This is not a spectator sport. Yes, what is left of the social state is being gutted (as it has been for half a century) – what are the Democrats going to do about it besides lament a Rightward shift they have consistently done nothing to reverse? At present, the only real contending domestic force that can stop Trump’s imperial expansion seems to be his own utter stupidity, and the only counter-force capable of beating back his domestic terror is grassroots resistance. We are far beyond Blue Team vs. Red Team as anything that resembles a moral, decent or respectable approach to politics. The point isn’t that the Democrats are as bad as the Republicans, the point is what effective difference does it make, especially in this moment? Sitting back and rooting for the Democrats is not the only thing we can do?
“Never Again” Means No Half-Measures or Bad Faith
When the “politics of the possible” has led to the gradual slide into the current dismal picture of what would have been an unthinkable nightmare a generation ago, our opening position needs to be to demand the impossible. This mess didn’t happen overnight. We need to push forward towards a political-economic system that fills everyone’s needs, that ensures peoples’ rights to control the forces that shape their daily lives, that respects and protects the planet we live on and depend on.
A system that is not premised upon taking from the hungry to feed those already well-fed off the toil of others. A society no longer rooted in colonialism, racism and war (whether abroad or domestically). How can we get there, especially in the face of what is currently going on? If you’re at this rally, likely all or most of the above are positions you agree with. The response from the people of Minneapolis this winter was amazing – the networks they built and strengthened, the models of resistance they were able to bolster in the face of state terrorism. The infrastructure for that solidarity was neither spontaneous, nor a creation of the Democratic Party. We need your help preparing for the man-made disasters we can see on the horizon. Not only are the Democrats not going to save us, it isn’t clear they are even usually trying to help. We are at a historical pivot point, what we do and how has an enormous bearing on what the future will look like.
What isn’t going to be effective:
- Showing up to demonstrations to take a picture for social media.
- Leaving voicemails for politicians’ office assistants to delete.
- Waiting for the next Blue Wave to fizzle out because some essential politician got bought off.
- Trying to get into a “who’s more patriotic” competition with the party that brought us January 6th and the second Trump administration.
What is going to be effective:
- Building movements that actively confront ICE – the Providence General Assembly took a small step this winter forcing the City of Providence to ban ICE from city property.
- Organizing among the workers, tenants and students who are under attack and fighting back – on picket lines, on the street, and in community meetings.
- Outlining a vision for a world free from fascism and diet fascism, and the political and economic crises which spawned them – a world we are going to have to build together.
This is not written to be more radical than thou, or to be (unnecessarily) divisive. This is written under the assumption that we share core values, probably to a great extent. The question is: how do we resist fascism and build a better world? We feel like the answer lies with you and I, what we can do collectively towards the ends we share rather than hoping someone will do it for us.
If this resonates with you, please come to the
Providence General Assembly
We meet every other Saturday at noon.
134 Mathewson St., Providence (4th Floor)
Next Meeting April 11th.