Fascism on the March, Sharpening Crisis, and the Urgency to Act

by Sunsara Taylor

January 31, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

 

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One key thing that would make a very big difference right now is for millions to take up and spread the slogan: “No! In the Name of Humanity—We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America!” This slogan stretches its arms wide to the people of the world, correctly captures the stakes for the future in all its dimensions, and puts before people clearly what must be fiercely opposed. Go to RefuseFascism.org for posters and stickers to take to protests and programs, to post up in shop windows and lawns, and to spread in many other ways.

What IS Fascism?

Fascism is the exercise of blatant dictatorship by the bourgeois (capitalist-imperialist) class, ruling through reliance on open terror and violence, trampling on what are supposed to be civil and legal rights, wielding the power of the state, and mobilizing organized groups of fanatical thugs, to commit atrocities against masses of people, particularly groups of people identified as “enemies,” “undesirables,” or “dangers to society.”

At the same time—and this can be seen through studying the examples of Nazi Germany and Italy under Mussolini—while it will likely move quickly to enforce certain repressive measures in consolidating its rule, a fascist regime is also likely to implement its program overall through a series of stages and even attempt at different points to reassure the people, or certain groups among the people, that they will escape the horrors—if they quietly go along and do not protest or resist while others are being terrorized and targeted for repression, deportation, “conversion,” prison, or execution.

On January 27, Donald Trump issued a vicious ban on immigrants from seven majority Muslim countries and a ban on all refugees. With the stroke of a pen, the lives of thousands were destroyed and shockwaves of terror and fear were sent into entire countries and communities. By that evening, thousands amassed at airports in protest—chanting, forming emergency legal clinics, blocking traffic and completely upending business as usual. These protests have continued in different forms for days, clogging major cities and towns all across the country and in other parts of the world.

Yet, the Trump-Pence regime barreled ahead.

  • When federal judges in four jurisdictions quickly blocked the implementation of aspects of Trump’s order, the White House pushed back and reports indicate that some Customs and Border Protection agents repeatedly resorted to coercion and deception to deny entry to people who legally should have been admitted to the U.S.
  • When more than 100 members of the State Department indicated deep alarm at Trump’s order—utilizing a customary means through which members are encouraged to offer dissent without retaliation—White House press secretary Sean Spicer ominously threatened them: “Get with the program or... Go.” (Since then, more than 1,000 have signed a letter opposing Trump’s order.)
  • Then, on Monday night, acting Attorney General Sally Yates, the highest law enforcement official in the land, announced that the Department of Justice would not defend Trump’s ban in court because she questioned its legality. The Trump-Pence regime struck back fast and with vengeance. They fired and excoriated Attorney General Yates, even accusing her of betrayal. Note well: the role of the Attorney General is not to do the bidding of the President, but to enforce the laws and the Constitution of the U.S.

This Muslim travel ban from Trump is not only cruel, immoral and illegal—it is FASCIST. In its content and in how it is being carried out, the Trump-Pence fascist regime has not only escalated its extreme xenophobia and nationalism, demonizing and unleashing terror against those it deems as “enemies,” “undesirables,” or “dangers to society.” It has also gone further in shredding what have up till now been the supposed civil and legal rights of the people and the “checks and balances” which have long been considered foundational to U.S. society.

Meanwhile, Kellyanne Conway escalated the regime’s assault on the media and the truth by demanding that journalists who had “talked smack” about Trump be fired. Christian fascist and white supremacist ideologue Steve Bannon was added as a core member of the National Security Council. All on top of a dizzying week in which Trump green-lighted environmentally devastating pipelines, moved ahead with his vicious border wall, lied about basic facts, and then threatened people who challenged his LIES, muzzled government agencies, assaulted science itself, escalated the war on women and abortion rights worldwide, and pushed forward with his cabinet of Christian fascists and war criminals, and more.

This regime is fascist. It is illegitimate. It must be driven from power.

One of the great strengths of the outpourings against Trump’s Muslim ban—in addition to the immediacy of people’s actions and the depth of their anger and determination—was the degree to which they linked this assault to the other elements of the Trump-Pence program. Pink pussy hats from the Women’s Marches dotted every outpouring. Hundreds grabbed up signs from RefuseFascism.org, “No! In the Name of Humanity—We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America.” Many invoked the lessons of Nazi Germany, including homemade signs that read, “First they came for the Muslims, and we said Not This Time Motherfuckers!” Even the hashtag that took off, #NoBanNoWall, linked the ban on Muslims to the vicious assault on Mexicans and other Latinos.

All this must be built upon—but it also must go further. Resisting every attack by Trump-Pence is essential, but it alone will not be sufficient. The regime as a whole must be driven from power. This is what we must set our sights on.

Unless and until we succeed in this, the Trump-Pence fascist regime will continue to barrel ahead with its fascist agenda, to trample the objections of the masses of people, to cut down any within the ruling structures who oppose them, to shred even the limited previously existing “checks and balances,” and to hammer into place a radically new world order and fascist form of governance in this country.

It is clear that there are people—millions and tens of millions—who can potentially be mobilized to fight against it and who must be led to step outside the confines of politics-as-usual (including protest-as-usual) to actually OUST this horrendous monstrosity.

This, and only this, is what can avert the brewing catastrophe for the planet and its people.

 

Sunsara Taylor is a writer for revcom.us and a co-initiator of RefuseFascism.org. Follow her on Twitter: @SunsaraTaylor

#NoFascistUSA • 917-407-1286
info@refusefascism.org
@refusefascism • Facebook.com/refusefascism
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