Statement from Billie M, a quadraplegic unable to attend the rally, and a fierce fighter for Refuse Fascism
There are many reasons to deplore the Trump/Pence regime. They are essentially
waging war with women and children, people with disabilities, the elderly,
minorities, low wage workers, and to some degree, with all people who are not
in their small group of wealthy individuals for whom money is not something used
to buy the necessities of life, but rather to buy power over everyone else.
Instead of the fascist changes they wish to introduce, let’s work toward a
vision of a humane society where all people have the right to food, medical
care and a safe place to live, where security does not depend on inherited
wealth. Moreover, we must espouse these values for people of all nationalities
and all countries. Capitalism has utterly failed us; there is no equality, and
we are all fighting for survival.
But we are not united in doing so. The Trumps of the world are so adept at
scapegoating that the blame is placed on groups of individuals; Muslims, women, Mexicans, ad nauseam. So each group is busydefending itself, when what we need to do is unite in fighting the plutocracy
that threatens to destroy us all, individually, and even as a species, by ignoring climate change.
For me, the issues are salient because I have, at different times, been in many of the groups demonized by the plutocracy; I have been a single mother, I depended on welfare briefly; I have been a low wage worker; and I have been homeless.
While working long hours, I got a bachelor’s degree, and while
enrolled in a master’s degree program at Harvard, after working twenty-one
straight days of double shifts over the Christmas holidays, I fell and broke my
neck, which puts me in another group targeted by the Trump/Pence cabal.
I’m a quadriplegic, which means that I cannot stand, and my arms are
too weak to use a manual wheelchair, so I get around with a power wheelchair. I
need someone to get me in and out of bed, get me dressed, shower me, make my
meals, do housework and laundry, and go to the store with me. I have to use a
machine to help me breathe at night. The Republican health care cuts would
probably constitute a death sentence form. The medicair cuts, at about 50%,
would cut the hours I can employ someone, my medical equipment use, and my use
of medical services
.
Also at risk under this administration are social security, subsidized
housing and food stamps, all of which I depend on.
I live in a vibrant, diverse city that has many free activities available. I
really enjoy my life. If the Trump/Pence plutocracy gets its way, the quality
of life in my city will probably plummet, and I would probably be facing
spending the rest of my life in a nursing home. I have worked in nursing homes.
No, thanks.
None of this is remotely acceptable. We must work together to stop Trump; that
is why the July 15th mobilization is so important, and why we must unite in
refusing fascism and instead, in choosing to work together, all of the
beautiful colors that humans come in, with all of the rich accents that people
speak in, using all of our strengths to build a future of hope and
possibilities for us and our children.