It Began Like Any Other Day . . .
by a writing team at RefuseFascism.org
November 4, 2017 began like any other day under the Trump/Pence Regime. We woke, unrefreshed for having had another restless night – tossing and turning – wondering what fresh hell the new day — the NEWS day would bring. As we poured our coffee and stepped out of showers, we remembered why the alarm had sounded on a Saturday morning – and why the alarm was more urgent this morning – because it resonated with the silent cries of millions terrified, and broken, hiding in the shadows of looming brown shirts and the catastrophe of the further deconstruction of what was left of a country, for better and for worse, we have called home. This was the day we would rise up, to stand against the darkest elements of our society to demand, “This Nightmare Must End. The Trump / Pence Regime Must GO!”
One by one, people started to grab their hats, and homemade signs, button up their kids, and hop into cars, busses and trains; first to Falmouth, Mass as early as 10:30am then south in Miami, in the Midwest — Cleveland, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, — East, West, North South — Pittsfield, Mass, Chicago & New York, Philly, Austin, Seattle, Boston, Tucson, Akron, LA, Honolulu, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, Salem and Atlanta. It was a great swell of people of all ages, races, orientations, perspectives.
In the days, weeks and month leading up to the day, as the crimes of the state multiplied, and we vacillated between screaming at our TVs and fighting against total despair, Refuse Fascism leaders were stedfast in the analysis and understanding of what was unfolding before our eyes – they called it fascism – and we were loathe to hear it -until it was the only word that would pierce through the deafening lies and denial that blew through our minds, across our desktops, and shattered against the cold sterile floor of the truth of our reality. Then we ventured out, mostly alone to a meeting or two, every now and then a demonstration. Oddly, our protests fell on deaf ears— and this only lead to greater frustration, and fear.
We had heard that our fellows in Cleveland, Austin, LA and elsewhere had experienced objective threats of violence – knowing that fascist thugs might in fact bring guns to our peaceful protests. We would not have believed this possible had it not been for the truth of Charlottesville. We saw with our own eyes, Nazi’s and other vile white supremacist organizations carrying flaming torches, marching, chanting racist, misogynist, anti-semitic hate speech — in our country, our home.
November 4 would be a day of calm discipline and determination. We would carry forward the same degree of sympathy, sorrow and shock expressive of the demonstrations that followed the death of Heather Heyer, and the attacks on friends whose heads were literally bashed in by this manifestation of hate. We were prepared to channel our outrage, and anguish to peacefully defy what these negative forces bringing forward our single unifying demand: This Nightmare Must End. The Trump Pence Regime Must Go!
So we steeled ourselves, knowing that if not us, who? In spite of the threats and objective danger, 4,000 of us stepped into the street, and took up signs and slogans, listened to speeches and songs, and realized we were not alone – that there were many of us who felt as well did; at the NYC rally Tony, a college student, gave a moving speech reflecting, “We have to think carefully & critically about not only our own futures but the type of society, the type of world we want to live in…”
Students and youth showed up in every city, representing dozens of colleges and high schools. They had been a little later in coming to the game, and yet had such clarity around the atrocities and significant contradictions, not only in the actions of the regime, but in the system it was born from. A student from San Francisco State said, “I’m just really worried about the future of not only our nation but the world and America’s impact on it. We’re just a horrible example for the world. There’s no peace. There’s no freedom any more. Everyone’s saying “make America great again”. When was America great? When we were enslaved? When we had no rights? We still don’t have rights. There’s still enslavement in the prisons, all over….”
Students’ concerns were wide ranging, but in no way was it lost on them that each indictment against the regime was part of an overarching fascist program, as one of a group of Pharmacy students said, ”…we’re all Americans and proud to be Americans because of our freedoms and our liberties — and the fact that this regime is trying to curtail our liberties in a variety of ways, whether that’s policing our bodies by eliminating birth control, or by telling us that we shouldn’t be here whether you’re a Mexican undocumented immigrant brought here when you were five months old or whether you’re a PC student from Saudi Arabia. …It’s just fucked up right? …we all need to stand together and call that out. And then not only say with our words that it’s wrong, but also demonstrate through our actions that we believe it’s wrong.”
In some cities where they were in real danger, students made shows of solidarity in different ways. To kick things off, on Friday November 3, the Revolution Club, Chicago, delivered a banner to Trump Tower that had been signed by youth from Chicago high schools and people in the mostly black and brown South Side neighborhoods. This banner reads “Hey Trump, From those you like to Demonize: You and Your GANG in the White House Are the REAL Thugs and THREAT to Humanity. In The Name of Humanity We Will DRIVE YOUR ASS OUT!” The colorful handmade banner was covered with dozens of signatures! In LA, one reporter commented on how many latino students had turned out for the rally and march, and in every city students came on their own, in two and threes, or dragged their parents bringing with them fearless energy and hopefulness. Their actions echoed the words of a student from Mills College, “If everybody is threatened then you should support the people who are really in danger of being hurt by this regime.”
Music, song and poetry spread out in waves of love above our heads, cushioning passionate speeches from great orators, ministers, and community leaders. In Honolulu, the crowd listened intently as poets spoke to their “souls,” spitting out rhymes about everything from Colin Kapernick to critical thinking in the schools.” A gospel singer was inspired to take the stage in Cleveland, and in Boston, a local folksinger kicked things off with a rendition of “Deportee.” LA and Chicago flexed their musical muscles as well, creating a warm spirit of community. More artists sent messages of solidarity and we all pledged in unison that “In the name of Humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America.”
NY rapper, Immortal Technique reminded us about how we got here, ”Human rights are at an all-time low because people can’t seem to even decide who is human & who is not…” A righteous brother and speaker on behalf of the Revolution Club gave an impassioned speech that flowed from him like poetry amidst the rain drops, “…You are in the right place. I don’t care how much it rains today. No amount of rain can wash away the blood and the tears that will flow, if WE do not make Trump & Pence GO!”
In LA, clergy from many denominations came together to speak, bringing some from their congregations. In NYC, Father Luis Barrios & Imam Konate Suleimane spoke words of inspiration, and encouraged us to stay in the streets, because we are humans and we must be here for one another in these dangerous times. Seattle hosted Weldon Nisly, a retired Mennonite pastor who joined the Christian Peacemaker Team member in Baghdad in March 2003, during the early days of the madness of W’s “shock and awe” bombing invasion of Iraq. He had been in Iraq four times and just served on the CPT Palestine team in Hebron. In Chicago, a lifetime radical Catholic priest emphasized how limited our time was to act. Clergy from all faiths, all around the country reminded us of our moral responsibility to act in the face of fascism – as in Pastor Niemoller’s poem, which continues to serve as a sharp reminder to us all.
With Trump in Asia, the threat of more war was ever present in the eyes and hearts of our comrades in Honolulu, where 250 humans joined to rally against the regime. An internationally recognized Korean activist there, who has herself visited North Korea 7 times, was brought to tears as she talked about the threat of a nuclear attack on North Korea, and the effect the attack would have on millions throughout Korea, Guahan, and Hawai`i. Col. Ann Wright (ret) joined her in calling on everyone to stand up against Trump’s cries for war.
In Pittsfield, an organizer said that, contrary to “a massive misinformation campaign” that missed the point of the movement’s motives. Violence and destruction are “not what we’re here for.” He continued, ”I feel we’re here to defend our Constitution,” “…We have to publicly stand against [the regime] to remind the public and the world that this is not how we operate.”
When two men emerged from the dozens of American flags decorating Park Square in honor of Veterans Day, to slam the organizer for disrespecting veterans, the organizers told them, “We respect the vets just as much as anyone else does . . . They defended our Constitution, and that’s what we feel we’re doing.”
“They are talking like fascists, looking like fascists, acting like fascists, entertaining white nationalist neo-Nazis in the highest echelons of government. . . . Do you think they just might be fascists?” asked Rev. John Beaty, Co-convener of Embracing Justice and Peace in Akron, OH.
Most every city reported a heavy police presence, in some places in direct response to false claims spread by reactionary press. In many cities, we couldn’t reach out to anyone beyond the police perimeter. Most bystanders were intimidated by this, and reported that they would have joined in had this not been the case. At its worst, the police seemed to enable the aggressions of the 200 + armed Nazis in Austin, and every time the fascists tried to disrupt the 45 courageous demonstrators with their U.S.A. chants and other provocations, we drowned them out with enthusiastic chants of “Humanity First!” A young Black woman said later that day, “Our actions were righteous, our collectivity, our activities were more powerful than theirs. We’re not afraid of their flags, weapons, president, any of that. They want to create a whole new way of life. We’re saying ‘NO!’ we’re not going to let this country become fascist.”
In Boston, in response to heightened concerns of provocateurs and alt-right agitators, young Antifa activists along with members of Veterans for Peace, came to both participate in the event and to work with organizers to prevent the rally from being derailed in any way. In keeping with our principles, they had agreed in advance to respect our orientation of a “mass nonviolent demonstration” with the clear unifying message of bringing together everyone who wanted to see an end to this regime and wanted to be part of the movement. When fascists did attempt to disrupt the rally – creating the potential for a serious diversion from the mission of the day – the Vets and the Antifa, came together with RF marshals to prevent it from devolving.
White supremacists, nazis, militarized police, and reactionaries emboldened by fascist Trump – encouraged by his boorish behavior, and warmongering were not the only issues that gave rise for the people to take this essential step into the movement.
Indianapolis, had an open mike session that reflected the diversity of people, and issues present in almost every city. People answered, “What is your nightmare?” followed by the Trump/Pence Must Go! chant after they spoke.
“My nightmare is that this nightmare will not end.” ~ Homeless Black Guy
“My nightmare is my trans sisters and brothers will continue to be killed.” ~ Trans woman
“My nightmare is that I will not be allowed to love who I want…” ~ LGBT woman
“My nightmare is my rapist getting out of prison AND of Trump bragging about sexual abuse.~Young Woman who spoke about being raped
Others spoke about the environment, and anti-science Everywhere we heard our sisters and brothers speak their TRUTH – like Lisa H., the Auntie of Jamarion “Jam” Robinson, who spoke on behalf of her family about Jamarion shot 76 times by the cops. A Georgia Tech Student spoke on behalf of Trans/LGBTQ and the murder of a GA Tech student by the GA Tech police. A young high school student who traveled with friends from Wisconsin, said that within this “whole nightmare” the issue that drew her to the demonstration was that she was doubly scared because she was both transgender and an immigrant.
In Cleveland, one rally speaker, who identified herself as an organizer in her housing project, said, “We need organization. I’m going to take this to every group I’m part of. It will take different groups to unite and stop Trump. He has to go—cuts in Medicaid, in Medicare, more mass incarceration, he has to go! His cabinet is racist, got to go. We need to have more protest like this. I’m going back and bringing many more!
Our message was clear, and unlike anything many of us have seen in the past- onlookers smiled, waved and cheered as we marched by – affirming our belief that there are millions who are hungry to be woken to this call. Simple tools like the sign-up cards delivered swift response -like restaurant workers along the march route sitting down, spending time to carefully go over the card, answering all the questions. The potential for people to come forward now is great, and this did start to happen, but only start.
“When we arrived at Rittenhouse Square, we let people know that this was only the beginning and that they were needed to carry this forward. . We entered the park and held an on the spot organizing meeting. As we said the pledge we knocked the Trump/Pence Regime Nightmare puppet down. We broke up into groups where plans were made for students, organizations, and mass outreach. The student group included people from at least three universities.
A Holocaust survivor who was in town celebrating his 90th birthday stopped by to give his support. “ ~ from the Philadelphia Chapter report.
In the last week and days leading up to the 4th many who had not been organized called and set up events in their cities. Whether one or 25 showed up, they all were determined to take a stand, and committed to persevering. For them it was about acting, about taking that first step. Groups that had been focused on electoral politics threw in at the eleventh hour, like Indivisible in Pittsfield. Black, Native American and Latino activists rallied in many cities, significant figures like Cindy Sheehan (the mother of a Gulf War veteran killed in combat who famously confronted George W. Bush), environmentalists, members of LGBTQ rights movements, lawyers, and activists from the handicapped rights movement; revolutionary communists, Bernie supporters, Democratic Party activists and others came together because ultimately they came to know what we know, that only the people acting together can drive them out. A woman from Reno who drove more than 250 miles, and had known Holocaust survivors said, “We have a chance, and that’s why I’m here.”
“We rally and march today to BEGIN a new phase of the struggle to bring about what millions of people ache to see: the end of a regime that imperils the lives of millions of people, a regime that denies their basic rights, their humanity . . . “
~ from the November 4 keynote speech
Today began like any other day, except today we woke refreshed because we know we are part of a process of continuing protests demanding this whole illegitimate regime be ousted from power. We are reaching out to all sections of the people, spreading everywhere, growing week by week and month by month with increasing size and determination. We are not deterred by naysayers, cynics, by those who normalize, accommodate or conciliate with a regime such as this. We are right to do this and the hour is late.