A Clash of Two Futures: Refuse Fascism and the Revolution Club in Protest at Trump’s Acceptance Speech
| revcom.us
Outside the White House as Trump accepts nomination, August 27. AP photo
It was a clash of two futures outside the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, August 27. While Trump accepted the “nomination” of the assembled white supremacist, woman hating, hate-filled fascist ghouls at the Republican National “convention” at the White House, Refuse Fascism, along with the Revolution Club, mobilized people from around the country to protest.
Right in the face of the nightmare at the White House, they challenged people to begin organizing ASAP and in earnest for 60 days of struggle starting September 5 to drive out the Trump/Pence fascist regime. On the following day, Refuse Fascism brought the message Trump/Pence Out Now! into the mix at the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks rally.
Thursday—In the Streets and Outside the White House
Jamel Mims from Refuse Fascism and the Revolution Club at a speak-out in the street as people marched towards Trump’s convention.
As Refuse Fascism rallied and began to march on Thursday afternoon, they were joined by hundreds of people from the streets, many of whom had arrived early for the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks rally. People were challenged: what kind of Black Lives Matter movement or any other movement for justice will exist under a second, consolidated fascist Trump regime?
And people were challenged to pledge to stand with the interests of humanity demanding Trump/Pence OUT NOW!
Late into the night, a go-go band from DC and a nearby noise-making event created enough of racket to be heard inside Trump’s fascist convention. Refuse Fascism’s message was in the mix along with horns, sirens, hundreds of middle fingers pointed at the White House and chants of “Fuck Trump!”
Making a racket as the Führer renominates himself
Extreme party mode = engaged. pic.twitter.com/zNtJocE3QY
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) August 28, 2020
Friday—Reaching out to Get Your Knee Off Our Necks March and Rally
The day after Trump's speech, the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march and rally drew tens of thousands to D.C. It took place on the 57th anniversary of the historic March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. This year, in a time of a great nationwide uprising against racist police murder, tens of thousands of people came to D.C. from around the country to be part of the rally. Among the speakers, Martin Luther King III condemned "what my father called the triple evils of poverty, racism and violence," and said, "We must vigorously defend our right to vote because those rights were paid for with the blood of those lynched for seeking to exercise their constitutional rights."
Refuse Fascism joined with people at the march and rally opposing police brutality and murder, white supremacy, and voter suppression, and at the same time brought home to people how essential it is to build a mass, nonviolent but determined and sustained movement to drive out this fascist regime now.
A dramatic statement from the middle of the famous Reflecting Pool during the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks rally.
CNN coverage of the Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march: CNN’s split screen showed Jacob Blake’s father speaking, and “Trump / Pence #OUTNOW!” banner.
Over two days, Refuse Fascism’s message broke through into mainstream coverage. Carl Dix and Jamel Mims, revcoms and organizers for Refuse Fascism, were interviewed on TV news, magazines and quoted in newspapers, and Refuse Fascism’s signs and banners reached hundreds of thousands or more through coverage.
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