Carole Levine 12/11/24
It has been over a month since the election of Donald Trump to a second term as President of the United States. Most (but not all) of my friends and colleagues have emerged from their huddling under their bedcovers in both sadness and fear to begin to face what lies ahead. Some of them are throwing in the proverbial towel and making plans to spend the next four years keeping their heads down and making no waves. Others are actively looking for ways to fight back and protect others who are vulnerable. There is talk among some about moving out of the country for four years. These are individual choices. It is not my place to judge. But I have never backed off from a righteous fight, so I will be here, speaking out, organizing, and, hopefully, kicking butt.
I see this taking three forms.
First, to stay the course with groups that will be organizing and fighting against the outrageous plans and initiatives of the new Trump administration that will harm both people and our democracy. And these groups abound. Pick an issue and there will be at least one group, most often more, that has built an organization or advocacy group that works on that issue and is organizing to see that harm is minimized and we don’t move backwards under the Trump administration. This is where our use of the Internet is invaluable. We all have the ability to Google our issues and see what organizations and individuals pop up as champions. Quite frankly, there is no one place to go… there are many. And it will take each of us doing our personal “homework” to find our fit.
Secondly, I will be looking for new colleagues and new partners. We are on the precipice of hard times, especially for immigrants, people of color, women and low-income communities and individuals. We are definitely better and stronger together, rather than acting individually. Connecting with others builds our credibility as well as our courage. Some of the best ideas and strategies emerge from groups and as individuals contribute to a shared plan, it can gain strength and support. So, I am looking for ways to expand my network and find both old and new advocates who share both concern and passion for specific issues. As the African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Thirdly, I am hoping to be patient, which is not an attribute that I always possess. I believe it is important to approach things with the long-term in mind. Re-building and creating new options takes time and it seems likely that there will a need to rebuild after this new Administration, hopefully, leaves office in four years. Putting the resources and strategies in place to ensure the efficacy of our people and institutions cannot wait. But taking actions with a long view may be more important than ever. If you dig deeply, you can see that the rise of the Republican right happened with careful planning, over a number of years. Their patience paid off and now we need to learn that lesson too. I will need to keep my expectations in check and savor (and celebrate) small victories.
My agenda will focus on specific areas and issues with the ability to shift directions as the need presents itself. Primary among them are:
- Immigration and protecting migrants who are contributing to the stability and wellbeing of our economy.
- Healthcare access and options for all. Attacks on the ability of people to access and make critical individual decisions about their healthcare are already happening. Women and the LGBTQI community are especially vulnerable.
- Protecting our public institutions and resources also rises to the top. From our public education systems and public health options to environmental protections for public lands and water systems, we have been a nation that depends on and believes in the importance of the public sphere. To do this, these institutions need to be supported and improved, not torn down or privatized.
- Supporting Social Justice is always on my agenda. For me, this includes our court systems at the local, state and national levels. Ensuring that these institutions are not led by highly qualified jurists who believe in the rule of law is critical.
Audre Lorde, American writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet and civil rights activist wrote: “To refuse to participate in the shaping of our future is to give it up. Do not be misled into passivity whether by false security (They don’t mean me.) or by despair (There’s nothing we can do.). Each of us must find our work and do it.” I am heartened by her words. So here are some things you can do NOW before the Trump Administration is in place (with thanks to my friend and colleague Kadida Kenner and the New Pennsylvania Project):
- URGENT: Ask President Biden to ensure the Equal Rights Amendment is published!
- Support the expansion of voting rights!
- Tell your senators to enshrine sex-based equality by affirming the Equal Rights Amendmentas part of our Constitution!
- Urge Congress to address the climate crisis and protect our youth!
- Asking Congress to decrease the influence of dark money with the DISCLOSE Act!
- Demand that Congress end voter discrimination and support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!
- Demand bipartisan cooperation on voting rights!
I listened to an interview with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez on Democracy Now and was heartened by her call to action. She said: “This is a moment for us to be fearless and courageous, to take a stand for every single person that Donald Trump is attacking, if it’s trans kids, if it’s women, if it’s immigrants, because he’s coming for every one of us that he believes and he deems not American enough.”
And Joyce Vance stated in her blog site, Civil Discourse: “If we believe in democracy, then it’s incumbent upon us to work together to save the Republic. We are the cavalry. No one else is coming.”
We have work to do… But, hopefully, we can do it together and make a difference
