The National Tour had a busy first full day in Atlanta, beginning by heading into midtown Atlanta where we met up with one of the co-initiators of Refuse Fascism, Sunsara Taylor, who is joining us during our stay here. She and two Tour Volunteers participated in a radio interview to discuss what this movement is and to make clear what horrors we will undeniably be facing if we do not act now to drive Trump and Pence from office.
Our interviewer began by outright declaring the administration illegitimate, which must always be kept in mind. He correctly pointed out that the essentially ancient electoral college is outrageous. It has never been updated to reflect any possible purpose other than that for which it was created: to protect the institution of slavery. Sunsara expanded on this point of illegitimacy, sharing the extremely critical point that no election fair or fraudulent can justify the rise of a fascist regime.
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The sight of four million people taking to the streets in resistance on Trump’s first day in office, particularly when contrasted with the sparseness of the sexual-predator-in-chief’s Inauguration crowd (though his “alternative facts” desperately seek to tell us otherwise), is a prime example of this illegitimacy. These protests, while undoubtedly necessary and inspiring, are insufficient given the dire threat we face as human beings living under the reigns of a growing fascist regime. We need to come together and orient ourselves toward the single, unifying message of NO!, encompassing not only resistance but refusal. We refuse to comply, to compromise, to cooperate with fascist aggressors.
In the interview, Sunsara raised a question to the listeners: We all look back at Nazi Germany with deep judgment and scorn, but how are we seeing ourselves now? She explained why it is accurate to compare Trump with Hitler, particularly because of the always-looming threat of this monster using nuclear weapons to murder massive numbers at the press of a button. We need to be thinking about the genocidal implications of Trump and Pence’s hateful policies, as well as their vicious attacks on the separation of powers, the press, and any form of dissent. Nazi Germany had stages: shock, awe, and then a period of normalization. We cannot allow that to happen here.
One Volunteer then explained why she chose to join the Tour, sharing that she is focused on organizing people actively to ensure the future of humanity, one without the horrific violence we see now, like the constant recurrences of police brutality day after day. I spoke about being first drawn to Refuse Fascism by the clarity of our message, by the fact that everyone needs to know that this is fascism point by point. Beyond unbelievably discriminatory and violent policies, their moves to consolidate power need to be bright warning signs, sparking a sense of urgency to be channeled into bringing millions to flood the streets. As Sunsara pointed out, there is no way to change someone like Trump, Pence, Bannon, or Sessions. No amount of checks and balances will stop them from consolidating power. It is up to all of us. This is why we cannot wait four years for another election, as the interviewer suggested we could. We must act now while we still can.
In the evening the Refuse Fascism Atlanta chapter hosted a welcoming party for the Tour at a local restaurant. Nearly fifty supporters were in attendance, coming from many different backgrounds, and we were able to mingle with everyone and discuss some thoughts and questions that came up. We met activists from several different groups, including a fascinating woman who spends her life helping eager young people become involved with activism, another radio show host who invited us onto his show tomorrow, and a woman who works with doctors at a nearby medical school, who shared with me the recent fears expressed to her by immigrant doctors who do amazing, life-saving work.
Each of the Tour Volunteers gave a speech, and because the crowd was big and the restaurant noisy, we had to speak very loudly and clearly, and some even stood on a chair. This environment actually yielded some of the most intense, passionate speeches we’ve seen on Tour so far. One Volunteer started with an expansion on some points from the Call to Action, providing defined examples of fascism manifesting itself in the United States every single day, and his central message on the threat of fascism was supported with great strength when he quoted Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller, who said, “The powers of the president are very substantial and will not be questioned.”
Another Volunteer energized the entire room by leading a chant: “In the name of humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America!” She was so fervent and spirited, encouraging us to bring the message of NO! everywhere by prompting us to imagine how much power the people can have if we say this, to imagine the whole political atmosphere being changed when people begin to understand and see their power, and to actually change history.
It will be difficult, but it is possible and deeply necessary because “right now, the very future of humanity is hanging in the balance.” We also saw one of the most persuasive fundraising pitches, when another Volunteer called on everyone present to visualize millions and millions of people joining together, from every corner of society, and actually driving this regime from power. She spoke of ads, billboards, support for Tour members, and other ways donations help our movement, and prompted all attendees to think about the role they could play in that very moment.
The speeches concluded with Sunsara, who explained that people only act on what they truly understand. Trump’s abominable Muslim ban, for example, ignited massive protests at airports because people could visualize how this would hurt real families. Yet most people currently do not fully understand what it means to have a fascist regime in power in the United States. We turn to the Call of Action, then, as a way of facilitating learning across the country, as a way of changing the thinking of millions because we must quickly do what should have been done in Hitler’s Germany.
Sunsara also discussed at length the significance of International Women’s Day this year, which is coming up soon on March 8th. Trump and Pence are both misogynists to the core, but this misogyny presents itself in very different ways. Trump’s disgusting words and actions function to popularize and normalize sexual assault and the treatment of women as sex objects, while Pence pushes for an oppressive Christian fascism and the enslavement of women through forced childbirth, reducing them to mechanical breeders. Both of them view women as less than human. Both of them treat us as men’s property. Women endure this complete degradation for our entire lives, and it is time to channel our rage and fury into an outpouring of resistance. But Sunsara rightfully explained that this fight is not only for women. Fascism has always rested upon the stripping of human rights for women. Liberation for anyone depends on the liberation of women. We must exercise our empathy and our humanity and drive them out before more human beings are savagely attacked.
We extend all of our gratitude to our hosts and everyone who came out to this joyful and exciting celebration! The love and support we received in Atlanta tonight is indicative of far more than just the strength of the Refuse Fascism chapter here; it proves the potential strength of our entire movement. When we come together undivided and empowered with the singular mission of rejection and refusal, we will be able to mobilize millions. Collectively, we absolutely can and must drive fascism out of the White House. We are preparing for the moment when the streets in all of our cities are flooded, when we are all united in shouting NO!, and when we succeed in forcing out these fascists and replacing it with equality, justice, peace, and empathy because our humanity is at stake. We will never accept a fascist USA!