I stare into all the eyes staring and mouths screaming at us and the hate that was oozing out as we are walking past. I’ve seen history books and documentary footage of angry white southerners viciously screaming and attacking Black people in the South during the 50s and 60s while eating at a lunch counter or entering a university that’s forced to go through desegregation. I felt that rage in person come at us. The rage that is based on a combination of white supremacy and patriarchy. Feeling that rage in person is an immense experience. This is a world that Refuse Fascism is fighting against without compromise…
Three of us from the Chicago Chapter of Refuse Fascism went inside the Westin Hotel where Mike Pence was speaking on July 13. Myself along with another RF activist and a legal adviser were in line waiting to get in, the 3 of us were surrounded by so much “Trump Love.” Even with everything going on, ranging from kids in cages that were ripped from their parents, the attack on LGBTQ rights, the U.S. losing complete credibility on an international level… The devotion to the Trump/Pence regime at this point is not based on logic or “making America great again” but pure racist ethnic cleansing. Which is why seeing all those MAGA hats in person all around you can really make one’s stomach turn as well.
I can’t speak for the two people that were with me but I literally felt like this was a Diet Pepsi version of a Klan rally. “Same great flavor but without the bluntly open racism.”
In line I did a lot of people-watching. There was one incident when someone who looked Puerto Rican walked past these high school boys with their MAGA hats. As he passed them, they threw him some very disgusted looks. You felt their anger their eyes full of white supremacist angst. Conversations in the crowd ranged from subjects such as “activist judges,” “Fox News,” and “predator immigrants.” Some woman raved about buying multiple “Trumpy dolls.”
Eventually the three of us sat down. You had blue collar American chauvinists with American-flag colored clothing sitting next to people who you can tell were born with a “silver spoon” in their mouth. Watching those blue-collared folks kissing up to their wealthy superiors was a little entertaining yet sad. It was like watching a puppy kiss up to its human in hopes of getting a treat or something off the plate after dinner. I’m not trying to be insulting or be an asshole, but it literally seemed like that. Or a nicer metaphor would be having the cool kids accept you in high school. Maybe they’re taken in by the American con of if you “work as hard,” “make the right connections,” or “step on enough heads,” “you also can be as powerful and wealthy like our current president.”
There was a guy hosting the event. He raved about the Supreme Court’s decision on Janus (where employees do not have to pay union dues). Everyone, including people who you know this will hurt in the long run, began clapping. This host brought out two business owners (one in real estate and another in manufacturing) along with a congressman. They raved about how great the Trump tax plan is and how they were able to hire more people. The fellow RF activist sat next to me looking bitter and disgusted I’m normally used to seeing them looking happy and positive, so it was a little surreal.
Then Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner came out to proclaim that “Mike Pence is the greatest civil servant in American history.” It really made your stomach turn. Though if you’re following the gubernatorial race in Illinois, Democratic candidate JB Pritzker is looking at his seat like a tiger ready to catch his prey.
Then Mike Pence comes out. He says a few words. The crowd cheers a bit. Then when everyone sits down, My companion and I whip out the banner and begin chanting “Humanity first, not America first.” The entire audience becomes rabid and maniacally starts to chant “USA, USA” repeatedly.
It felt like one of the most intense moments of my entire life. My heart began beating intensely. A very young looking usher runs nervously down and politely asks “Can you please leave, sir?” We begin walking away. A police officer follows us from the audience. My RF comrade who joined me bravely leads the way as I follow behind her while she holds the banner that was made the night before. I look over to see Mike Pence give a disapproving smirk. An audience member ripped the banner from my comrade’s hand screaming at us. She grabbed our RF banner back screaming at him. My fellow RF activist might be 75 years of age but is no pushover.
I stare into all the eyes staring and mouths screaming at us and the hate that was oozing out as we are walking past. I’ve seen history books and documentary footage of angry white southerners viciously screaming and attacking Black people in the South during the 50s and 60s while eating at a lunch counter or entering a university that’s forced to go through desegregation. I felt that rage in person come at us. The rage that is based on a combination of white supremacy and patriarchy. Feeling that rage in person is an immense experience. This is a world that Refuse Fascism is fighting against without compromise. The roots of this white supremacist and patriarchal illness is what the Revolution Club is trying to tear up and burn to build a new society based on humanity and scientific rationale.
The two of us are being walked out as our legal adviser follows behind. The cops make a path for us to easily exit. These local Rosemont cops were prepared and expecting this to happen. “Here come a couple of ejectors” was what we heard repeatedly. We didn’t get arrested. The cops seemed to just want to have us leave so they “could get this shit over with”. Now there were 3-4 other interruptions after us. They got ejected too.
We met some of the other birddoggers when we all met up at a McDonald’s after the event. One was a mom with her daughter and her best friend. The best friend told me that she was “nervous as hell” but once she saw us do our thing first, her confidence was reassured. I was quite proud of that.
Next time I do such a thing, I’ll do it better. This was an experience. I needed to get my feet wet. My fellow RF activist was a phenomenal “partner in crime.” I looked at the footage of myself and her. I looked scared shitless but my comrade soldiered on. I personally want to thank her for inspiring me with her leadership that day and having me grow as a person so much more. Along with everyone’s to the Steering Committee and its top leadership to everyone who has been working Refuse Fascism Chicago.
Now let’s really get into “Beast mode” and become a nightmare to this Trump/Pence nightmare!!!!