I’m going to Washington, DC next week to be part of a mass, non-violent gathering with one central goal and slogan, Trump Must Go Now.  The gathering begins November 5 and will continue with the aim of bringing together a large and determined enough mass of people to force the regime from power. Here is a video that describes the reasons and the goals of this: 

Short Film of the November 5 Call: Narrated by Coco Das

We all know about the grave history of fascism. Anyone who has thought seriously about it has likely wondered why the German people did not rise to defend Jews who were targeted by the fascists. And why was there no serious effort to stop Hitler?  Whatever else could be said about the failures of the German people, they did not have an historical example to learn from. We do have that historical experience.  There was  individual resistance to the Nazis, including Germans who tried to help Jews and other targeted populations. But there was no MASS resistance movement. Individual resistance, no matter how courageous, can not challenge fascism in power. Mass resistance can. Here there is grassroots resistance to the attacks on immigrants, which is growing. I see it developing in San Francisco. And there is mass resistance to the regime across the country. Both are necessary. 

Trump is trying desperately to clamp down with ever more menacing threats including a few days ago to “send more than the National Guard” to the big cities.  The biggest obstacle facing the fascists in their effort to consolidate their rule and shut down opposition is the mass movement of millions and even tens of millions determined not to live in white supremacist, Christian nationalist nightmare. 

What people do or don’t do, will make a difference. 

Come to DC in the coming days to be part of this movement.

If you belong to an organization, church, synagogue or other group, raise the issue in your community. Get them to support this mobilization. 

Contribute money to sustain the effort. refusefascism.org

I wrote some words when my father, Fred Neuburger, a survivor of the Holocaust, passed away in 1987. I ran across those words yesterday and I include a section of what I wrote then.  Here it is:

“You gave us all,

Who knew you well

Something solid

To grasp on to.

And I’ll hold on to this:

You told me,

Sometimes bitterly

Of your youthful days in Munich

As clouds gathered

In an ugly storm,

And how many people

Turned their heads the other way

Even as the shadows

Crossed their path,

And remained silent 

So long as the rain did not touch them.

“Good Germans” I think I heard you say.

I’ll never forget that,

We mustn’t forget, 

I promise you that.”