From a new Refuse Fascism volunteer on the Drive Out the Trump-Pence Regime National Tour
Hi everybody,
Day 2, February 28 The Refuse Fascism National Tour began our second day in Washington, D.C. with a trip to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Our experience was an important preface to the rest of the day, and it was transformative and enlightening for all of us. When discussing our impressions and takeaways afterwards, we concluded that many striking parallels exist between the fascism of Nazi Germany and the present fascism of the Trump/Pence regime. We all felt the dangerous connection especially with the processes of normalization of fierce hatred.
I spent a lot of time thinking and speaking with another volunteer about the steps taken by both regimes to dehumanize all groups who did not fit their ideological, social, racial, or physical ideals. We saw it this week, when this fascist leader denied transgender children the right to use the school bathrooms corresponding the gender with which they identify. Trump and Pence want to propagate an image of all “Others” as abnormal, unwelcome, and deserving of abuse. Hitler did not begin with mass murder; he moved from book burning to segregation, from banning Jewish and non-Jewish marriages to the damage and distortion of bodies through so-called medical experiments, i.e. torture. We see a remarkably similar trajectory developing every single day. The rhetoric of “America First” and “Make America Great Again” resounded sharply in one video exhibition, which explained that Hitler and his followers truly believed they were “restoring Germany to greatness.”
The similarities go beyond hateful, racist, misogynistic, discriminatory policies: both Hitler and Trump completely dismantled and rewired the preexisting political structures. As this illegitimate ruler seeks to undermine our Constitution, our checks and balances, and our access to justice and the truth, he tries to strip away reality and leave the nation with only one option: blindly follow the president’s authority. Ultimately, the attacks on Jewish people, Muslims, women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and others, perpetrated by Trump’s horrific regime, exemplify the growth of fascism in this country and its attempts to dehumanize people in order to consolidate power. Meanwhile, hate crimes are still viewed as isolated incidents, and white supremacy is becoming normalized. This is all shocking, and this absolutely must be a wake-up call to millions of people.
We carried deep empathy and pain within us throughout the day, but parts of the museum like the above quote ignited our spirits and drove us to action. Our reactions and emotions translated in our conversations with students on the Howard University campus. We began one-on-one discussions with an emphasis on defining fascism and building courage to destabilize the norm and practice radical resistance with the aim of actually ousting this regime. Several of these moments were very energizing, and we were able to work productively to organize students who told us they’re ready to get started. With the motivation instilled in us throughout our visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, we challenged the denial, hopelessness, and despair we saw in other students, professors and businesses we encountered.
Another team of volunteers went door to door to local shops and businesses, encouraging them to manifest the message of “NO!” by displaying posters and the Call to Action, receiving incredible solidarity from the community.
We ended the day with two important meetings. One was with a group of activist Howard students who have been involved in protesting Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos, and in issuing a list of demands, including the demand that Howard officially declare itself a sanctuary campus and that Donald Trump be banned from all university buildings. We also met with a new supporter we’d spoken with yesterday; with her help, we are laying the foundation for a strong D.C. chapter of Refuse Fascism, and we are spreading NO! loudly and clearly. The belief that fascism could never happen in the U.S.A. is false. We must reject passivity, ignorance, and fear. We will organize. We will resist. We will drive them out!
Read Sunsara Taylor’s article, “Why it’s Not Just Right, But Highly Illuminating and Very Necessary to Compare Trump to Hitler“.
