From Saryta Rodriguez, writer, social justice advocate, and educator:
Fascists never introduce themselves as fascists, and fascism always sounds reasonable at first. Those who support a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country, for instance, think this is reasonable so that we can vet them further and keep Americans safe (even though Muslims and all others coming to the U.S. are already rigorously vetted). What they fail to realize is that not only is vetting in place, but there is only a hair’s width between “Muslims temporarily cannot enter the country” and “Muslims in the U.S. need to be revetted.” Then comes “It would be easier to vet Muslims in the U.S. if we grouped them into specific areas (camps).”
This is how fascism takes root. It begins by playing on one’s fears and insecurities, then evolves as people grow increasingly complacent.
Fascism is also aided by the creation of a false sense of impending justice. We are exposed daily to the drama of the Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia, and many of us are fooled into thinking that these allegations will lead to his impeachment. So we stay home. That is how resistance is crushed– not only by convincing some that what is being done is “necessary,” but also by convincing those who remain skeptical that we will be rescued by the System, by the Powers That Be. Meanwhile,Trump’s Muslim ban is making progress in the courts, as are initiatives to suppress women’s reproductive rights, and Pence is raking in the dough, hosting dinner parties in order to cement terrifying alliances.
We are asked to believe that the very mechanisms that enabled a fascist to take power in the first place will end said fascist’s regime. This is patently false. Trump will not be impeached, and even if he is, we can’t wait that long. Trump and Pence can and will do irreparable damage for as long as they are in office. We can’t afford to wait for some ambiguous savior. Only WE can save us. We must drive them out, NOW! That is why I will be joining thousands of Americans on July 15th to declare that Trump and Pence must go.